Toxic Potential of Mineral Dusts

Fubini, Bice; Fenoglio, Ivana

doi:10.2113/gselements.3.6.407

Cited by 132 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…SO 2 ) in high concentrations may present human respiratory health hazards, and there is particular concern about the presence of crystalline silica (e.g. cristobalite) and transition metals such as iron (Fubini and Fenoglio 2007;Horwell and Baxter 2006). On May 2, 2008, Chaitén volcano, Chile, erupted unexpectedly (FIG.…”

Section: Environmental and Human Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Atmospheric and Environmental Impacts of Volcanic Particulates

2010

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V olcanic emissions consist of a mixture of gases, aerosol, and silicate particles, which collectively span seven orders of magnitude in size. Airborne ash and sulfate aerosol in the lower atmosphere has shortlived atmospheric and climatic effects. Volcanic aerosol injected high into the stratosphere impacts atmospheric chemical cycles and the solar and terrestrial radiation budgets, and may infl uence climate over longer timescales than aerosol particles in the lower atmosphere. Once at the surface, the impacts on local environments can be substantial through transport of halogens, trace metals, and metalloids, and subsequent leaching in aqueous solutions. Volcanic emissions may cause disruption to travel and aviation, and may damage surface infrastructure, potentially causing large economic losses.

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Section: Environmental and Human Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Atmospheric and Environmental Impacts of Volcanic Particulates

2010

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“…Inhalation or ingestion of particulate matter (PM) has been shown to have adverse impacts on human health (Valavanidis, Fiotakis, and Vlachogianni, 2008;Wilson and Suh, 1997). Furthermore, several studies have confirmed a strong link between the inhalation of fine aerosols in ambient environments and the occurrence of cardiopulmonary mortality and respiratory diseases (Berico, Luciani, and Formignani, 1997;Dockery, 2001;Harrison and Yin, 2000;Fubini and Fenoglio, 2007;Griffin, Kellogg, and Shinn, 2001;Park et al, 2004;Pope and Dockery, 2006;Schwartz, 1994;Wilson and Suh, 1997). According to Schwartz (1992) and the World Health Organization (2006), for human health, there is 'no safe threshold' level of PM exposure.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Health risk posed by enriched heavy metals (As, Cd, and Cr) in airborne particles from Witwatersrand gold tailings

Maseki

Annegarn

Spiers

2017

J. South. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall.

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Severe episodes of windblown dust from mine tailings storage facilities (TSFs) are a common phenomenon on the Witwatersrand, especially during the spring windy season. For communities around TSFs, such events pose health and environmental challenges. This paper reports on health risk assessment using US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) risk assessment methods for heavy metal elements in windblown dust from TSFs on the central and east Witwatersrand. Samples of surface material from these TSFs were analysed for heavy metal content using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). From a range of 30 heavy metals analysed, only As, Cd, Cr, Pb, and U were enriched by a factor of two or more above the average crustal composition and at concentrations that could be of possible health concern-elements present in the range of a few parts per billion (ppb) or lower were ignored. As, Cd, Cr, Pb and U were selected for a comprehensive risk assessment from exposure through airborne routes, mainly considering inhalation and ingestion. Ambient exposures were based on a worst-case measured episode of 540 μg m -3 (24-hour average), which was projected over each day of an annual exposure for the hours for which the wind speed was above the threshold for dust generation. US EPA risk assessment methods were used to determine the inhalation and ingestion hazard quotients and hazard indices for adults and children. The sum of the hazard indices was assessed to be below the non-cancer benchmark (hazard indices 1.0) considered to be acceptable for a lifetime exposure. The total risk for both exposures (inhalation and the ingestion) was within the range of 1 per 1 000 000 to 100 per 1 000 000-taken as 'acceptable risk' by the US EPA for adults and children. These results represent the first quantitative health risk assessment of the hazard posed by heavy metals in windblown mine tailings dust on the Witwatersrand goldfield. mine tailings, dust, airborne particles, health risk, inhalation, ingestion heavy metals, arsenic, cadmium, chromium.

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“…Airborne particles and toxic gases (e.g., SO 2 , HF) pose respiratory hazards (3,4). Particles < 10 nm diameter cause irritation on the short term and cancer on the long term.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Eyjafjallajökull volcanic ash particles and a protocol for rapid risk assessment

Gíslason

Hassenkam

Nedel

et al. 2011

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

192

141

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On April 14, 2010, when meltwaters from the Eyjafjallajökull glacier mixed with hot magma, an explosive eruption sent unusually fine-grained ash into the jet stream. It quickly dispersed over Europe. Previous airplane encounters with ash resulted in sandblasted windows and particles melted inside jet engines, causing them to fail. Therefore, air traffic was grounded for several days. Concerns also arose about health risks from fallout, because ash can transport acids as well as toxic compounds, such as fluoride, aluminum, and arsenic. Studies on ash are usually made on material collected far from the source, where it could have mixed with other atmospheric particles, or after exposure to water as rain or fog, which would alter surface composition. For this study, a unique set of dry ash samples was collected immediately after the explosive event and compared with fresh ash from a later, more typical eruption. Using nanotechniques, custom-designed for studying natural materials, we explored the physical and chemical nature of the ash to determine if fears about health and safety were justified and we developed a protocol that will serve for assessing risks during a future event. On single particles, we identified the composition of nanometer scale salt coatings and measured the mass of adsorbed salts with picogram resolution. The particles of explosive ash that reached Europe in the jet stream were especially sharp and abrasive over their entire size range, from submillimeter to tens of nanometers. Edges remained sharp even after a couple of weeks of abrasion in stirred water suspensions.

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Toxic Potential of Mineral Dusts

Cited by 132 publications

References 57 publications

Atmospheric and Environmental Impacts of Volcanic Particulates

Atmospheric and Environmental Impacts of Volcanic Particulates

Health risk posed by enriched heavy metals (As, Cd, and Cr) in airborne particles from Witwatersrand gold tailings

Characterization of Eyjafjallajökull volcanic ash particles and a protocol for rapid risk assessment

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