Crystal habit of mineral fibres

Belluso, Elena; Cavallo, Alessandro; Halterman, Don

doi:10.1180/emu-notes.18.3

Cited by 31 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 30 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Concerning the physical features, the diameter seems to be the main factor controlling the ability of fibers to reach the lower respiratory tract, while macrophage phagocytosis is more dependent on fiber length [7,74]. According to [4], an elongated particle is defined as "inhalable" for humans when its diameter is <3.5 µm, while [19] considers as inhalable the fibers with a diameter-length ratio ≥1:3, a length >5 µm, and a diameter <3 µm.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One of the most important factors for defining the hazardousness of mineral fibers is their size or their tendency to split into smaller fibrils that are easily inhalable [3][4][5][6][7]. The biopersistence of fibers, defined as their ability to persist in the human body to chemical, physical, and other physiological clearance mechanisms, is another important factor for inducing toxicity and carcinogenicity [8][9][10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Prismatic to Asbestiform Offretite from Northern Italy: Occurrence, Morphology and Crystal-Chemistry of a New Potentially Hazardous Zeolite

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A multi-methodological approach, based upon field investigation, morphological characterization, chemical analysis and structure refinement was applied to different samples of fibrous offretite, a new potentially hazardous zeolite recently discovered in northern Italy. Their morphology ranges from stocky-prismatic to asbestiform. All the investigated fibers may be considered as "inhalable", and they are well within the range of the "more carcinogenic fibers" regarding diameter. As regards the length, the main mode observed in the asbestiform samples is 20-25 µm, and~93% of the measured fibers are >5 µm and may be significantly associated with carcinogenesis also in terms of lengths. The chemical-structural features of the investigated fibers are comparable: the extra-framework cations K + , Mg 2+ and Ca 2+ are present in all samples in similar proportions, and refined cell parameters are similar among the samples. Offretite occurs in 60% of the investigated sites, with an estimated amount up to 75 vol % of the associated minerals. The presence of this mineral could be of concern for risk to human health, especially if one considers the vast number of quarries and mining-related activities that are operating in the zeolite host rocks.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prismatic to Asbestiform Offretite from Northern Italy: Occurrence, Morphology and Crystal-Chemistry of a New Potentially Hazardous Zeolite

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This leads to problems of compatibility and reproducibility between different laboratories. Another concern is the classification of non-asbestos classified fibers [4] whose potential hazard is not fully investigated, such as prismatic and acicular habits or cleavage fragments of amphiboles and other elongated mineral particles (EMP) that are even more common [5]. Research and debate are in progress about the composition and morphology of the various types of asbestos and the related fibrous minerals not classified as asbestos, such as erionite and fibrous antigorite [6,7], which are similar in morphology to the polymorph chrysotile of asbestos and not always distinguishable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-Analytical Approach for Asbestos Minerals and Their Non-Asbestiform Analogues: Inferences from Host Rock Textural Constraints

Militello

Bloise

Gaggero

et al. 2019

Fibers

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Asbestos is a hazardous mineral, as well as a common and well-known issue worldwide. However, amphiboles equal in composition but not in morphology, as well as the fibrous antigorite and lizardite, are not classified as asbestos even if more common than other forms of the mineral. Still, their potential hazardous properties requires further exploration. The proposed multi-instrumental approach focuses on the influence of textural constraints on the subsequent origin of asbestiform products in massive rock. This aspect has a significant effect on diagnostic policies addressing environmental monitoring and the clinical perspective. Concerning minerals that are chemically and geometrically (length > 5 μm, width < 3 μm and length:diameter > 3:1) but not morphologically analogous to regulated asbestos, the debate about their potential hazardous properties is open and ongoing. Therefore, a selection of various lithotypes featuring the challenging identification of fibrous phases with critical counting dimensions was investigated; this selection consisted of two serpentinites, one metabasalt and one pyroxenite. The analytical protocol included optical microscopy (OM), scanning and transmission electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM/EDS; TEM/EDS), micro-Raman spectroscopy and synchrotron radiation X-ray microtomography (SR X-ray μCT). The latter is an original non-destructive approach that allows the observation of the fiber arrangement in a three-dimensional space, avoiding morphological influence as a result of comminution.

show abstract

“…The problem of toxicity and carcinogenicity of asbestos minerals has long been discussed since the 20 century, because it represents a clear consequence for human health. The term asbestos represents a series of six natural asbestiform silicate minerals, which include serpentine (chrysotile), as well as amphibole minerals (tremolite, actinolite, anthophyllite, amosite, and crocidolite that represent a variety of commercial term of fibrous riebeckite) that are defined by law in Europe and in several countries worldwide [1][2][3][4] and also by Italian law (D.Lgs. 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The First Occurrence of Asbestiform Magnesio-Riebeckite in Schists in the Frido Unit (Pollino Unesco Global Geopark, Southern Italy)

Laurita

Rizzo

2019

Fibers

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this paper, new mineralogical and petrographical data of asbestiform Magnesio-riebeckite from ophiolite cropping out in the Pollino Unesco Global Geopark (southern Italy) are presented. Magnesio-riebeckite schists with HP-LT index mineral assemblage recorded metamorphic events in blueschist facies in the Frido Unit. Previous toxicological studies showed that asbestiform Magnesio-riebeckite species exhibited high carcinogenicity in previous intraperitoneal injection experiments with rats. The results have been obtained using different analytical techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and electron probe micro analysis (EPMA). Results show that all the samples contain fibrous Magnesio-riebeckite and/or prismatic, acicular crystals in aggregates. The concentration of elements in Magnesio-riebeckite crystals is: Na 2 O (4.12-6.26 wt%), MgO (8.22-10.87 wt%), FeO (19.07-23.81 wt%), SiO 2 (52.05-56.06 wt%), CaO (1.12-4.53 wt%), Al 2 O 3 (1.34-1.93 wt%), and MnO (0.10-0.34 wt%). Magnesio-riebeckite crystals are documented in the Pollino Unesco Global Geopark for the first time. For this reason, the aim of this paper is the characterization of Magnesio-riebeckite to improve the knowledge of this mineral in the studied area, because the release of fibers into the environment is dangerous for human health.

show abstract

Crystal habit of mineral fibres

Cited by 31 publications

References 30 publications

Prismatic to Asbestiform Offretite from Northern Italy: Occurrence, Morphology and Crystal-Chemistry of a New Potentially Hazardous Zeolite

Prismatic to Asbestiform Offretite from Northern Italy: Occurrence, Morphology and Crystal-Chemistry of a New Potentially Hazardous Zeolite

Multi-Analytical Approach for Asbestos Minerals and Their Non-Asbestiform Analogues: Inferences from Host Rock Textural Constraints

The First Occurrence of Asbestiform Magnesio-Riebeckite in Schists in the Frido Unit (Pollino Unesco Global Geopark, Southern Italy)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About