title: [Exposure to artificial mineral fibers in public buildings].
abstract: Man-made mineral fibers are widely used as asbestos substitutes in many application fields. Therefore toxicology studies and indoor pollution surveys, related to man-made mineral fibers, are becoming very important. Several surveys were made in office buildings where the main source of indoor pollution was the dispersion of man-made mineral fibers contained in the insulation materials (under-ceiling panels, partitions and material used in air-conditioning installations). Samples of the insulation materials were taken and analyzed by phase contrast optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. For some samples the fiber diameter measurements were made and the related statistical parameters were calculated. The measured airborne fiber concentrations showed non relevant man-made mineral fiber dispersion in the environment. The relative exposure limits and regulations in force are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Superiore per la Prevenzione e la Sicurezza del Lavoro, Dipartimento Igiene del Lavoro Monte Porzio Catone, Roma.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Camilucci
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campopiano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casciardi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fioravanti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ramires
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D019016:Mineral Fibers / Q000032:analysis*; D011633:Public Facilities
chemical_list: D019016:Mineral Fibers