Asbestos as contaminant in the mining of non-asbestos minerals: Case of a “marble” waste slurry dump-yard from Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Asbestos is fibrous minerals, some of which can naturally occur in certain types of marble, including asbestiform tremolite, actinolite, anthophyllite, and chrysotile, with tremolite the most common among those associated asbestos types. This is of concern as miners and stone workers may not be aware of this and may never be considered by physicians treating them for lung related ailments. Wet marble dust in slurry form is disposed of at designated waste collection points, including in Rajsamand, Rajasthan. unfortunately, this location is now open to the public as a tourist attraction. Dust from this location was tested using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and tremolite asbestos fibres were found. The presence of tremolite means the workers, bystanders and tourists to the waste collection spots may be exposed to this carcinogen and this may become the etiological factor for mesothelioma or lung cancer among other asbestos related diseases. The marble industry in general should also be subjected to the same regulations as the asbestos industry due to the presence of naturally occurring asbestos in such mines. This is particularly germane in India where asbestos is widely being used and studies show a significant and increasing number of asbestos related lung and pleural, malignant and non-malignant diseases including cancers, such as mesothelioma. This study aims to highlight the occupational and environmental health hazard among workers and the general public.