History of asbestos discovery and use and asbestos-related disease in context with the occurrence of asbestos within ophiolite complexes

Abstract

Two ancient asbestos mines, one near Karystos, Greece, and the other southeast of Mount Troodos, Cyprus, were located in what we now know to be ophiolite terrane. Evidence suggests that asbestos was discovered and utilized in Cyprus, perhaps as long as 5,000 years ago, for manufacture of cremation cloths, lamp wicks, hats, and shoes. Some of the adverse health effects of asbestos became known only in the early twentieth century, but it was not until the 1960s that the asbestos-related diseasesasbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma-were fully understood. Approximately 85% of the world's asbestos was produced from ophiolite complexes, most of which was the chrysotile variety; tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite asbestos accounting for only a few percent of the total. Asbestos minerals crystallize within tectonized ophiolites-along shear, fault, and dilation zones, and at contacts with intruded dikes and sills. Important chrysotile asbestos mines are found in the ophiolites of eastern Canada, the Russian Urals, California, northwest Italy, northern Greece, and Cyprus. A high incidence of mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung lining, is reported among residents of villages located within or near ophiolite complexes in Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Corsica, and New Caledonia. These villagers were exposed to tremolite asbestos while processing stucco and whitewash for application to homes. Asbestos contamination in various geographic localities has generated concern about health risks and has prompted costly remedial actions, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States. A scientifi c basis for public policy is offered to address the utilization of asbestos-bearing rocks.

Predictive assessment of the asbestos content in the Western Italian Alps: an essential tool for an effective approach to risk analysis and management in tunneling operations and muck reuse

“…At a worldwide scale, most of the asbestos occurrences and concentrations are associated with ophiolite complexes of different ages and selected Precambrian rock-types: according to Ross and Nolan (2003), during its 5000 year-long history of use, ca. 85% of the world's asbestos has been produced (mostly as chrysotile) from ophiolites; grunerite and crocidolite occurrences are instead practically restricted to Precambrian iron-rich lithologies.…”

Reported Historic Asbestos Mines, Historic Asbestos Prospects, and Other Natural Occurrences of Asbestos in Oregon and Washington

“…The geology of asbestos and its application to identifying and managing the natural deposits is explained in Van Gosen (2007b). Several examples of occupational and environmental exposures to natural asbestos occurrences are described in Churchill and Hill (2000), Nolan and others (2001), Clinkenbeard and others (2002), Gianfagna and others (2003), Peipins and others (2003), Ross and Nolan (2003), Burragato and others (2005), Meeker and others (2006), Sullivan (2007), and Horton and others (2008). United States Federal asbestos regulations do not specifically address occupational exposures to natural occurrences of asbestos, nor do they mention every variety of asbestiform amphibole.…”

Reported Historic Asbestos Mines, Historic Asbestos Prospects, and Natural Asbestos Occurrences in the Rocky Mountain States of the United States (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming)

“…The history of asbestos discovery and usage is at least 5,000 years old, extending back to the ancient civilizations in Greece and what is now Italy (see Ross and Nolan, 2003). Historically, asbestos is a generic commercial-industrial term used to describe a group of specific silicate minerals that form as long, very thin mineral fibers, which can form bundles.…”