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Asbestos and other fibrous minerals contained in the serpentinites of the Gimigliano-Mount Reventino Unit (Calabria, S-Italy)

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Abstract

Serpentinites are metamorphic rocks with good technological properties and valuable ornamental characteristics, which have been exploited since ancient times. Actually, their use is limited and monitored in several countries worldwide because they can contain fibrous asbestos minerals that may be carcinogenic. Furthermore, certain types of fibrous minerals can be confused with asbestos, and must therefore be carefully investigated. We have investigated the possible presence of the asbestos and non-asbestos fibrous phases contained in serpentinitic rocks in a meta-ophiolitic sequence from the Gimigliano-Mount Reventino Unit (Southern Italy), which had not been previously assessed. The detection and quantification of asbestos and the correct distinction of the fibrous non-asbestos minerals are very important not only from a scientific point of view, but also from a legislative one. This is especially the case for the administrative agencies that have to take decisions with regards to the implementation of public and occupational health protection measures (e.g., in road yards and quarry excavations). As a consequence of this, serpentinitic rock samples have been characterized in detail through X-ray powder diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive spectrometry, analytical electron microscopy (SEM–EDS and TEM–AEM), differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Two kinds of asbestos and four kinds of non-asbestos fibrous silicates have been detected in the examined samples. In order of decreasing abundance these are polygonal serpentine, chrysotile, fibrous antigorite, tremolite, gedrite and magnesiohornblende. The size, morphology, crystallinity and chemical composition of the fibres were also discussed, in the light of the possible role these properties could play in the carcinogenic effect on human health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Biologia, Ecologia e Scienze della Terra, Università della Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, Cubo 15b, 87036, Rende, Italy

    Andrea Bloise, Teresa Critelli, Carmine Apollaro, Domenico Miriello, Eugenio Barrese, Francesca Liberi & Eugenio Piluso

  2. Dipartimento di Fisica, Università della Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, Cubo 33b, 87036, Rende, Italy

    Manuela Catalano

  3. Dipartimento di Scienze e Innovazione Tecnologica, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale, Viale Teresa Michel 11, 15121, Alessandria, Italy

    Alessandro Croce & Caterina Rinaudo

  4. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Torino, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125, Torino, Italy

    Elena Belluso

  5. Unità di Torino, CNR, Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125, Torino, Italy

    Elena Belluso

  6. Nanostructured Interfaces and Surfaces, Centro Interdipartimentale di Eccellenza, Università di Torino, Turin, Italy

    Elena Belluso

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  1. Andrea Bloise
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  2. Teresa Critelli
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  3. Manuela Catalano
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  4. Carmine Apollaro
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  5. Domenico Miriello
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  6. Alessandro Croce
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  7. Eugenio Barrese
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  8. Francesca Liberi
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  9. Eugenio Piluso
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  10. Caterina Rinaudo
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  11. Elena Belluso
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Correspondence to Andrea Bloise.

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Bloise, A., Critelli, T., Catalano, M. et al. Asbestos and other fibrous minerals contained in the serpentinites of the Gimigliano-Mount Reventino Unit (Calabria, S-Italy). Environ Earth Sci 71, 3773–3786 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-3035-2

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