Natural occurrence of asbestos in serpentinite quarries from Southern Spain

Abstract

The Nevado-Filábride Complex (NFC) area (southern Spain) is well known for the widespread mining and quarrying activities. Serpentinite and metabasite rock types are extracted, processed and traded as building and ornamental stones. Due to possible presence of Naturally Occurring Asbestos (NOA) minerals in these lithotypes, the aim of the investigation of this paper is to discern about the presence of these fibrous minerals and to characterize them in detail. In order to do this, seven serpentinite rock samples were collected in four quarries located in Sierra Nevada and Sierra de los Filabres (South-eastern Spain) and studied by X-ray powder diffractometry (XRPD), Scanning Electron Microscopy combined with Energy-Dispersive Spectrometry (SEM/EDS), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Derivative Thermogravimetry (DTG) and by X-ray Synchrotron microtomography (SR-µCT). The investigation of asbestos minerals is very important not only from a scientific point of view, but also from a legislative one, especially for the administrative agencies that have to take decisions with regards to the implementation of health protection to workers (e. g., quarry excavations, road yards, civil constructions, building stones).

Characterization of Talcose Rocks Derived from Serpentinite—Pilot Study in the Ultramafic Complex of Cabo Ortegal (Spain) for Potential Use and Commercialization

“…Lizardite and antigorite were only detected in the sample from Ferraría (Table 1). Tremolite was identified in the Somozas sample [9,10] and the data obtained using thermal analysis reduced the ambiguities regard-ing the distinction between asbestos tremolite from non-asbestos tremolite [10]. Based on the breakdown temperature of the tremolite samples observed in this study (i.e., 1123 • C) (Figure 8; Table 2), we conclude that tremolite was non-asbestiform, having a prismatic morphology [11].…”

“…However, talc is subject to contamination from other surrounding materials (i.e., serpentinites), such as heavy metals or even asbestos [9,20], which is known to be a carcinogenic material. For example, talc ore extracted in the state of New York is heavily contaminated from tremolite asbestos, which results in a high mortality rate among workers [21][22][23].…”

“…The thermal data (DSC and DTG peaks) confirm the presence of the phases detected by XRPD. Furthermore, chrysotile was identified [9] in both samples, but in the Somozas sample it was detected in very low quantities (Table 1). Lizardite and antigorite were only detected in the sample from Ferraría (Table 1).…”

The Importance of Prevention When Working with Hazardous Materials in the Case of Serpentinite and Asbestos When Cleaning Monuments for Restoration

“…The airborne presence of asbestos fibres has been ascribed to their release from anthropic sources (e.g., from the structural and ornamental stones used in buildings), as well as from natural sources (e.g., from outcropping rocks), caused by a combination of atmospheric agents and anthropogenic activities. Pulmonary pathologies, verified in many different parts of the world, have been attributed to the rocks normally used in local buildings-for example, chrysotile and tremolite asbestos in outcropping ophiolitic rocks and soils in several regions of Italy and Spain [27][28][29][30]. The quantities of chrysotile detected in both samples after laser ablation are not negligible.…”

Lung Cancer and Pleural Mesothelioma Risk Assessment for the General Population Exposed to Asbestos in Different Regions of Tehran, Iran

“…Asbestos is a trading name referring to a group of six natural fibrous silicate minerals 1 with exclusive chemical and physical characteristics, such as resistance to heat, 2 fire, acid, and water, as well as high-tensile strength. 3 Asbestos has many applications in some industries, such as automobile brake and clutch cement, sheet manufacturing, 4 and building.…”