Mineral fibres are ubiquitous on Earth. Because many of them possess outstanding technological properties, they have been used since ancient times for a huge number of applications. They are considered now one of the most interesting and complex examples of inorganic to organic sphere interaction with direct consequences for human health. The most important mineral fibres are serpentine asbestos (chrysotile), amphibole asbestos species and the zeolite erionite. If inhaled, because of their peculiar fibrous-asbestiform crystal habit and chemical-physical surface reactivity, these mineral fibres may induce, after a long latency period, fatal lung diseases. All amphibole asbestos minerals are banned worldwide whereas chrysotile is banned only in the countries strictly following the indication of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which includes chrysotile in Group 1 "substance carcinogenic to humans". No ban has been proposed for the zeolite erionite so far. Explaining human toxicity of mineral fibres is not straightforward at all. The difficulties stem from the fact that mineral fibres possess a variety of chemical compositions, atomic structural arrangements, morphologies that affect biogeochemical reactions in the body. Due to the interplay of all these factors, the mechanisms by which mineral fibres induces cyto- and geno-toxic damage remain unclear. Our research group is actually involved in the study of the bio-interaction and toxicity of the mineral fibres from the well pondered assemblage of chemical-physical, mineralogical-structural, and biological information. In this work, we present the results of the mineralogical and chemical physical characterization of mineral fibres belonging to the major classes of mineral fibres of economic and social importance: three chrysotile species including the UICC standard, Balangero and Valmalenco (Italy), crocidolite UICC standard, amosite from Penge (South Africa), anthophyllite UICC standard, tremolite from Val d'Ala (Italy) and the zeolite erionite from Jersey valley (Nevada USA). Data are discussed in the frame of the existing contradictory literature data.
Gualtieri, A., Pollastri, S., Barrese, E., Bloise, A., Belluso, E., Belpoggi, F., et al. (2014). Mineralogical and crystal chemical characterization of hazardous mineral fibres of social and economic importance. In 21st General Meeting of IMA South Africa 2014 - abstract volume (pp.176-176). Geological Society of South Africa and the Mineralogical Association of South Africa.
Mineralogical and crystal chemical characterization of hazardous mineral fibres of social and economic importance
CAVALLO, ALESSANDRO;
2014
Abstract
Mineral fibres are ubiquitous on Earth. Because many of them possess outstanding technological properties, they have been used since ancient times for a huge number of applications. They are considered now one of the most interesting and complex examples of inorganic to organic sphere interaction with direct consequences for human health. The most important mineral fibres are serpentine asbestos (chrysotile), amphibole asbestos species and the zeolite erionite. If inhaled, because of their peculiar fibrous-asbestiform crystal habit and chemical-physical surface reactivity, these mineral fibres may induce, after a long latency period, fatal lung diseases. All amphibole asbestos minerals are banned worldwide whereas chrysotile is banned only in the countries strictly following the indication of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which includes chrysotile in Group 1 "substance carcinogenic to humans". No ban has been proposed for the zeolite erionite so far. Explaining human toxicity of mineral fibres is not straightforward at all. The difficulties stem from the fact that mineral fibres possess a variety of chemical compositions, atomic structural arrangements, morphologies that affect biogeochemical reactions in the body. Due to the interplay of all these factors, the mechanisms by which mineral fibres induces cyto- and geno-toxic damage remain unclear. Our research group is actually involved in the study of the bio-interaction and toxicity of the mineral fibres from the well pondered assemblage of chemical-physical, mineralogical-structural, and biological information. In this work, we present the results of the mineralogical and chemical physical characterization of mineral fibres belonging to the major classes of mineral fibres of economic and social importance: three chrysotile species including the UICC standard, Balangero and Valmalenco (Italy), crocidolite UICC standard, amosite from Penge (South Africa), anthophyllite UICC standard, tremolite from Val d'Ala (Italy) and the zeolite erionite from Jersey valley (Nevada USA). Data are discussed in the frame of the existing contradictory literature data.
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