Abstract
An innovative and, as yet, untested approach is to analyze serpentinite and metabasite rocks containing asbestos using a portable multi-analytical device, which combines portable digital microscopy (p-DM), portable X-ray Fluorescence (p-XRF) and portable micro-Raman Spectroscopy (p-µR). The analyses were carried out in two inactive quarries of serpentinitic and metabasitic rocks from the Gimigliano-Mount Reventino Unit (Southern Italy) already characterized in previous studies, with the aim of testing the efficiency of these portable tools. In this study, a portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer was used to obtain the in situ rapid chemical discrimination of serpentinite and metabasite rocks. The characterization of outcropping rocks using portable devices enabled us to detect the presence of chrysotile and asbestos tremolite. The results obtained were consistent with the findings from previous research studies and therefore combining p-DM, p-XRF and p-µR could be a useful approach for discriminating asbestos contained in outcropping rocks, especially when sampling is prohibited or for field-based sampling.
Highlights
Harmful asbestos minerals that are regulated by law include chrysotile, tremolite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, actinolite and amosite [1]
The aim of our study is to promote the portable monitoring of asbestos fibers present in rock outcrops, using portable digital microscope (p-DM), portable X-ray fluorescence (p-XRF) and portable μ-Raman spectroscopy (p-μR)
We present the possible applications of portable digital microscopy (p-DM), portable X-ray Fluorescence (p-XRF) and p-μR to determine their efficiency in identifying asbestos minerals under field conditions
Summary
Harmful asbestos minerals that are regulated by law (in Europe and in several countries worldwide) include chrysotile, tremolite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, actinolite and amosite [1]. Over the last few decades there has been an increase in the incidence of chronic respiratory and degenerative diseases caused by exposure to airborne asbestos from artificial and natural sources [2,3]. Due to their outstanding characteristics, asbestos fibers were used in more than 3000 industrial applications and for manufacturing various types of products (e.g., asbestos cement, eternit, disc brake pads) known as asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) from 1720 until the 1980s [4]. Ever since antiquity serpentinite and metabasite have been used as building materials and ornamental stones worldwide [17,18]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
