Asbestos fibre identification vs. evaluation of asbestos hazard in ophiolitic rock mélanges, a case study from the Ligurian Alps (Italy)

摘要: In recent years, the high incidence of harmful health effects through inhalation airborne asbestos from amphibole-bearing rock melanges has been thoroughly documented. Here, we present a field-based, multi-scale geological approach aimed at illustrating occurrence amphibole fibrous mineralisation in an ophiolitic suite Ligurian Alps (Italy) and discussing implication on situ determination hazard. The melange is composed plurimetre-sized blocks different lithotypes (metagabbro, serpentinite, chloritoschist) juxtaposed by meaning tectonic structures. geological-structural survey revealed that localised specific structural sites volume, including veins schistosity. Both micro-chemical crystal structure analyses selected samples actinolite fibres grow within metagabbro chloritoschists, while tremolite occurs serpentinite morphological features these have analysed TEM images used for classifying them as “asbestiform” or “non-asbestiform”. results show hazard not unequivocally identified when procedures fibre identification classification are applied. This may impact normatives regulations defining environmental hazards due to occurrence.