Natural and anthropogenic sources of atmospheric air pollution by asbestos fibers

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Abstract

Introduction. Deposits of various types of asbestos are widespread in the earth’s crust. In these areas there may be a possibility of the atmospheric air pollution by asbestos fibers, especially in the case of industrial development of these deposits or active use by the resident population.

The purpose of this study was to assess the possibility of air pollution by amphibole asbestos fibers in the areas of disused flooded quarries in Sverdlovsk region.

Materials and methods. 5 samples of atmospheric air, water and soil were taken and analyzed at the territories in Sverdlovsk region where magnesio-arfvedsonite and anthophyllite were extracted in the past years.

Results. An extremely high content of free fibers of magnesio-arfvedsonite and anthophyllite (up to 20% of the total weight of the samples) was discovered in the soil samples. The concentrations of asbestos fibers in the water averaged 67 ∙ 106 f/L and 79 ∙ 106 f/L, respectively. The average concentrations of respirable amphibole asbestos fibers were 0.06 f/ml and 0.05 f/ml, respectively.

Limitations. The paper presents the results of a pilot study of air pollution by fibrous particles, based on which it is not possible to give a full description of the situation, taking into account all possible types of anthropogenic activity in the surveyed areas in different seasons of the year.

Conclusion. The results obtained indicate an increased risk of air pollution and water environment contamination by free amphibole asbestos fibers due to their leaching and weathering from rocks, as a result of which disused flooded quarries should be considered as natural and anthropogenic sources of pollution.

It is necessary to conduct regular monitoring of the environmental situation at these facilities, as well as to develop measures to prevent the exposure of amphibole asbestos fibers on the population.

Contribution:

Tskhomariia I.M. — collection of literature data, writing a text;

Kovalevskiy E.V., Kashanskiy S.V. — editing, responsible for approval of the manuscript final version.

All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship. We express our gratitude to JSC «NIIproektasbest» for their assistance in materials collection.

Received: August 12, 2021 / Accepted: November 25, 2021 / Published: April 08, 2022

About the authors

Iraklii M. Tskhomariia

Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health; I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)

Author for correspondence.
Email: iraklytchomariya@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9615-3284

MD, junior researcher at the physical factors laboratory of Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health, Moscow, 105275, Russian Federation.

e-mail: iraklytchomariya@mail.ru

Russian Federation

Evgeny V. Kovalevskiy

Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health; I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)

Email: noemail@neicon.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5166-6871
Russian Federation

Sergey V. Kashanskiy

Yekaterinburg Medical Research Center for Prophylaxis and Health Protection in Industrial Workers

Email: noemail@neicon.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0530-7496
Russian Federation

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