Lichen deterioration of asbestos and asbestiform minerals of serpentinite rocks in Western Alps

Favero‐Longo, Sergio E.; Turci, Francesco; Fubini, Bice; Castelli, Daniele; Piervittori, Rosanna

doi:10.1016/j.ibiod.2012.07.018

Cited by 16 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Regulation is limited to six of these minerals, which only partially account for the existing, naturally-occurring fibers [1]. Among these regulated minerals, chrysotile is part of the serpentines, while actinolite, amosite, anthopyllite, crocidolite and tremolite are part of the amphiboles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping of Asbestos Cement Roofs and Their Weathering Status Using Hyperspectral Aerial Images

Cilia

Panigada

Rossini

et al. 2015

IJGI

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Abstract:The aims of this study were: (i) the mapping of asbestos cement roofs in an urban area; and (ii) the development of a spectral index related to the roof weathering status. Aerial images were collected through the Multispectral Infrared and Visible Imaging Spectrometer (MIVIS) sensor, which acquires data in 102 channels from the visible to the thermal infrared spectral range. An image based supervised classification was performed using the Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) algorithm. The SAM was trained through a set of pixels selected on roofs of different materials. The map showed an average producer's accuracy (PA) of 86% and a user's accuracy (UA) of 89% for the asbestos cement class. A novel spectral index, the "Index of Surface Deterioration" (ISD), was defined based on measurements collected with a portable spectroradiometer on asbestos cement roofs that were characterized by different weathering statuses. The ISD was then calculated on the MIVIS images, allowing the distinction of two weathering classes (i.e., high and low). The asbestos cement map was handled in a Geographic Information System (GIS) in order to supply the municipalities with the cadastral references of each property having an asbestos cement roof. This tool can be purposed for municipalities as an aid to prioritize asbestos removal, based on roof weathering status.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping of Asbestos Cement Roofs and Their Weathering Status Using Hyperspectral Aerial Images

Cilia

Panigada

Rossini

et al. 2015

IJGI

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“…Primary metabolites, such as oxalic acid, and a wide range of poorly soluble secondary metabolites may be involved in biogeochemical processes. Still, the effect of altering mineral properties does not occur identically for all NOAs [17].…”

Section: Lichensmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The high magnesium content of the parent rock and suitable structural and metamorphic conditions are conducive to their formation [16]. The natural occurrence of asbestos is primarily associated with ultramafic rocks, mainly serpentinite, in which fibers are found in various generations of metamorphic veins [17]. Asbestos is also often found in mines and quarries of heavy metals or other minerals, such as chromite or vermiculite [5].…”

Section: Naturally Occurring Asbestos (Noa) and Asbestos Use In Industrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Plants, Microorganisms and Their Metabolites in Supporting Asbestos Detoxification—A Biological Perspective in Asbestos Treatment

Łuniewski,

Rogowska,

Łozowicka

et al. 2024

Materials

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Many countries banned asbestos due to its toxicity, but considering its colossal use, especially in the 1960s and 1970s, disposing of waste containing asbestos is the current problem. Today, many asbestos disposal technologies are known, but they usually involve colossal investment and operating expenses, and the end- and by-products of these methods negatively impact the environment. This paper identifies a unique modern direction in detoxifying asbestos minerals, which involves using microorganisms and plants and their metabolites. The work comprehensively focuses on the interactions between asbestos and plants, bacteria and fungi, including lichens and, for the first time, yeast. Biological treatment is a prospect for in situ land reclamation and under industrial conditions, which can be a viable alternative to landfilling and an environmentally friendly substitute or supplement to thermal, mechanical, and chemical methods, often characterized by high cost intensity. Plant and microbial metabolism products are part of the green chemistry trend, a central strategic pillar of global industrial and environmental development.

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“…Bioremediation of asbestos-contaminated sites could enlist any of several processes, depending on the type and concentration of the asbestos mineral, the scale of the site, and the presence of other contaminants, such as toxic heavy metals ( Cunningham et al, 1995 ; Favas et al, 2014 ; Prasad, 2015 ; Prasad and Shih, 2016 ). Possibilities include phytostabilization, where plants are used to stabilise the substrate but not necessarily alter the asbestos ( Kumar and Maiti, 2015 ; Kumar et al, 2017 ); phytoextraction if plants can hyper-accumulate certain elements in sufficient quantities that harvesting plants will reduce cooccurring soil metal contaminants ( Sheoran et al, 2009 ; van der Ent et al, 2015 ); and rhizodegradation or bioweathering, where plants and/or soil microbes chemically alter asbestos fibres ( Daghino et al, 2006 , 2009 ; Favero-Longo et al, 2013 ).…”

Section: Treatment Optionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenging Global Waste Management – Bioremediation to Detoxify Asbestos

Wallis

Emmett

Hardy

et al. 2020

Front. Environ. Sci.

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As the 21st century uncovers ever-increasing volumes of asbestos and asbestos-contaminated waste, we need a new way to stop ‘grandfather’s problem’ from becoming that of our future generations. The production of inexpensive, mechanically strong, heat resistant building materials containing asbestos has inevitably led to its use in many public and residential buildings globally. It is therefore not surprising that since the asbestos boom in the 1970s, some 30 years later, the true extent of this hidden danger was exposed. Yet, this severely toxic material continues to be produced and used in some countries, and in others the disposal options for historic uses – generally landfill – are at best unwieldy and at worst insecure. We illustrate the global scale of the asbestos problem via three case studies which describe various removal and/or end disposal issues. These case studies from both industrialised and island nations demonstrate the potential for the generation of massive amounts of asbestos contaminated soil. In each case, the final outcome of the project was influenced by factors such as cost and land availability, both increasing issues, worldwide. The reduction in the generation of asbestos containing materials will not absolve us from the necessity of handling and disposal of contaminated land. Waste treatment which relies on physico-chemical processes is expensive and does not contribute to a circular model economy ideal. Although asbestos is a mineral substance, there are naturally occurring biological-mediated processes capable of degradation (such as bioweathering). Therefore, low energy options, such as bioremediation, for the treatment for asbestos contaminated soils are worth exploring. We outline evidence pointing to the ability of microbe and plant communities to remove from asbestos the iron that contributes to its carcinogenicity. Finally, we describe the potential for a novel concept of creating ecosystems over asbestos landfills (‘activated landfills’) that utilize nature’s chelating ability to degrade this toxic product effectively.

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Lichen deterioration of asbestos and asbestiform minerals of serpentinite rocks in Western Alps

Cited by 16 publications

References 46 publications

Mapping of Asbestos Cement Roofs and Their Weathering Status Using Hyperspectral Aerial Images

Mapping of Asbestos Cement Roofs and Their Weathering Status Using Hyperspectral Aerial Images

Plants, Microorganisms and Their Metabolites in Supporting Asbestos Detoxification—A Biological Perspective in Asbestos Treatment

Challenging Global Waste Management – Bioremediation to Detoxify Asbestos

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