Tremolite asbestos exposure in a rural area: personal sampling campaign results

Background Rural areas on the Calabro-Lucano border, Southern Italy, are characterized by the presence of ophiolites outcrops containing tremolite. A study mapped the outcrops and assessed the exposure through environmental sampling of airborne asbestos fibers nearby towns, showing doses up to 22 ff/L. Our study assesses the presence and level of personal exposure to inhalable asbestiform fibers in residents employed in occupational activities involving earthmoving and soil disturbance and other activities. Methods We recruited 30 volunteers including 20 employed in construction and agriculture and 10 employees working in other sectors not involving disturbance of the soil, and also five relatives of patients who died of pleural mesothelioma residents in areas with ophiolites outcrops. Sampling was conducted over two days later in the summer. The content and type of asbestos fibers were determined by technique of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectrometer). Results The SEM analysis showed the presence of asbestos fibers serpentine type tremolite in 20 above 30 filters obtained by personal sampling. EDS microanalysis allowed to exclude titanium and organic material. The doses of tremolite fibers observed were between 0.8 and 23.06 ff/L. The environmental fund limit of 2 gg/L was exceeded in 50% of samples. 60% of farmers reported a personal exposure than 2 ff/L (from 2.07 to 23.06 ff/L) and 100% of construction workers (from 4.02 to 12.02 ff/L). The five relatives reported exposure values from 0.8 to 6.07 ff/L, exceeding in three cases the limit of 2 ff/L. Conclusion 90% of residents not employed in agriculture and construction has been exposed to doses of tremolite lower than the value of the fund. The information campaign, aimed at a proper risk management, was useful. Health surveillance of resident population is needed.