Management of Asbestos Containing Materials: A Detailed LCA Comparison of Different Scenarios Comprising First Time Asbestos Characterization Factor Proposal

Martina Pini,Anna Maria Ferrari,Paolo Neri,Simone Scarpellini,Alessandro F Gualtieri,Roberto Rosa

doi:10.1021/acs.est.1c02410

Martina Pini, Anna Maria Ferrari + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c02410

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Abstract

This work addresses the complex issue of asbestos containing materials (ACMs) management, by focusing on the scenario of six municipalities comprised in the Reggio Emilia province of Emilia Romagna Italian region. Particularly, the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was applied in order to assess in a quantitative and reliable manner the human toxicity as well as the ecotoxicity impacts associated with all of the different phases of ACMs management. The latter comprises mapping of ACMs, creation of a risk map for defining priority of intervention, encapsulation and removal of ACMs, as well as the as obtained asbestos containing waste (ACW) end of life. Particularly, a thermal inertisation treatment performed in a continuous industrial furnace was considered as the innovative end of life scenario to be compared with what actually was provided by the legislation of many countries worldwide, that is, the disposal of ACW in a controlled landfill for hazardous wastes. A characterization factor for asbestos fibers released both in outdoor air and in occupational setting was proposed for the first time and included in the USEtox 2.0 impact assessment method. This allowed us to reliably and quantitatively highlight that inertisation treatments should be the preferred solutions to be adopted by local and national authorities, especially if the obtained inert material finds application as secondary raw materials, thus contributing to a decrease in the environmental damage (limited to its toxicological contributions) to be associated with asbestos management.

Highlights

Asbestos, a commercial term referring to six different silicate minerals, has been used as a building material since ancient times for its outstanding physical−chemical and technological properties.[2,3] the above-mentioned properties arise from its peculiar crystal habit, the latter is responsible for severe health hazard, including pulmonary asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer,[3−5] so that asbestos has been included in Group 1 of carcinogens by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer).[6]Since the early 1970s, many countries started banning the production of asbestos containing materials (ACMs)
The above-mentioned properties arise from its peculiar crystal habit, the latter is responsible for severe health hazard, including pulmonary asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer,[3−5] so that asbestos has been included in Group 1 of carcinogens by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer).[6]
For example, definitively banned asbestos in 1992 with the Italian legislative decree no. 257/92.7 due to its widespread utilization, huge amounts of ACMs still remain present in both private and public buildings,[8] so that to avoid any possible human health and environmental risks associated with inhalation of asbestos fibers as a consequence for example of catastrophic events or the natural aging/decomposition of these ACMs, many communities prompted the development of opportune plans for the safe removal of ACMs.[9]

Summary

Introduction

A commercial term referring to six different silicate minerals (i.e., chrysotile, actinolite asbestos, amosite, anthophyllite asbestos, crocidolite, and tremolite asbestos1), has been used as a building material since ancient times for its outstanding physical−chemical and technological properties.[2,3] the above-mentioned properties arise from its peculiar crystal habit (i.e., fibrous asbestiform), the latter is responsible for severe health hazard, including pulmonary asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer,[3−5] so that asbestos has been included in Group 1 of carcinogens (i.e., carcinogenic for humans) by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer).[6]Since the early 1970s, many countries started banning the production of asbestos containing materials (ACMs).

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