Health implications of atmospheric aerosols from asbestos-bearing road pavements traditionally used in Southern Brazil.
Serpentine and amphibole asbestos occur naturally in certain geologic settings worldwide, most commonly in association with ultramafic rocks, along associated faults. Ultramafic rocks have been used in Piên County, Southern Brazil for decades for the purpose of road paving in rural and urban areas, but without the awareness of their adverse environmental and health impact. The aim of this study was the chemical characterization of aerosols re-suspended in two rural roads of Piên, paved with ultramafic rocks and to estimate the pulmonary deposition of asbestos aerosols. Bulk aerosol samples were analyzed by means of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and X-ray diffraction analysis, in order to characterize elemental composition and crystallinity. Single-particle compositions of aerosols were analyzed by computer-controlled electron-probe microanalysis, indicating the presence of a few percentages of serpentine and amphibole. Given the chemical composition and size distribution of aerosol particles, the deposition efficiency of chrysotile, a sub-group of serpentine, in two principal segments of the human respiratory system was estimated using a lung deposition model. As an important finding, almost half of the inhaled particles were calculated to be deposited in the respiratory system. Asbestos depositions were significant (∼25 %) in the lower airways, even though the selected breathing conditions (rest situation, nose breathing) implied the lowest rate of respiratory deposition. Considering the fraction of inhalable suspended chrysotile near local roads, and the long-term exposure of humans to these aerosols, chrysotile may represent a hazard, regarding more frequent development of lung cancer in the population of the exposed region.
Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Paraná/UFPR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Ricardo H M
RHM
Godoi
Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Paraná/UFPR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Sérgio J
SJ
Gonçalves
Department of Geology, Federal University of Paraná/ UFPR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Célia
C
Sayama
Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Paraná/UFPR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Gabriela
G
Polezer
Department of Geology, Federal University of Paraná/ UFPR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
José M
JM
Reis Neto
Environmental Science Center, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar.
Bálint
B
Alföldy
Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.
René
R
Van Grieken
Pediatric Allergy Division, Federal University of Paraná/UFPR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Carlos A
CA
Riedi
Chemical Engineering Department, Federal University of Paraná/UFPR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Carlos I
CI
Yamamoto
Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Paraná/UFPR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Ana F L
AFL
Godoi
Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics, Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 49, Budapest, 1525, Hungary. bencs.laszlo@wigner.mta.hu.
László
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1775-5170
L
Bencs
D000336:Aerosols; D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D001938:Brazil; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008175:Lung Neoplasms; D008954:Models, Biological; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000378:metabolism; D018570:Risk Assessment
D000336:Aerosols; D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole; D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine
Adverse health effects; Asbestos minerals; Atmospheric particulate matter; Health impact; Lung deposition model; Single particles
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