• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 2020

In accordance with the amendment of the Industrial Safety and Health Act of 2007, Korea completely prohibited the import, distribution and manufacture of asbestos like Europe and Japan. Accordingly, the current problem of asbestos is the safe maintenance and disposal of asbestos construction material, the disposal of asbestos, and the final disposal of asbestos building materials. If the asbestos building material is made harmless, it may be classified as general waste or as recyclable waste. Therefore, this study evaluated the physical and chemical characterization of detoxified asbestos powder and the applicability of secondary products. In this study, it was found that applying the appropriate temperature and pressure for catalysis during asbestos desalination through low temperature chemical treatment was the most important factor.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.345-350
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• 2012

To investigate the exposure and health risk assessment for the residents near the D-asbestos mine in Chungbuk, Korea. We analyzed asbestos in the 20 ambient air and 23 activity based samples near the mine. The airborne sample results are showed that 8 of 20 samples ranged between 0.0025 to 0.0029 f/cc (fiber per cubic centimeter) and the others were below the detection limit by phase contrast microscopy (PCM). In addition, asbestos fibers were under the detection limit or not being by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Based on interview and survey targeting the local residents, we made the activity based sampling (ABS) scenarios fit to the conditions of field. At the same time, we calculated the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) of these ABS scenarios according to the ELCR average value and 95% upper confidence limit (UCL). At the case of weed whacking, soil digging and sweeping yard scenario, 95% UCL of ELCR exceeded the $1{\times}10^{-4}$, acceptable risk range for exposure. Based on our study results, it is necessary safety measures such as risk communication, abatement or management of naturally occurring asbestos (NOA).

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.91-98
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• 2013

Interested in NOA (Naturally Occurring Asbestos), Korea as well as the USA has been making geologic maps of asbestos distributed mines and surrounding areas, restoring mines, evaluating hazard, and so on. The result can be used to improve the reliability of analysts and analysis institutions by judging the amount of asbestos and set up PLM(Polarizing Light Microscope) information by analyzing in soil. The certification value of 2 kinds of CRM(Certified Reference Material) was performed by counting total 400 points with EPA 600-R-93-116 method using by PLM. The following is the result of homogeneity and stability of 2 kinds of manufactured CRM analyzed by ANOVA (Analysis of variance) and Regression Analysis. Based on the analyzation, the results are satisfied with homogeneity and long-term stability. The analyzed certification value of CRM includes the range of minimum and maximum value of point counting result for chrysotile; low concentration-1% (range, 0.25~3.00), high concentration-4% (range, 2.25~5.50).

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.479-488
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• 2014

Naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) from disturbance of rocks and soils has been overlooked as a source of exposure that could potentially have a detrimental impact on human health. But, few researches on mineralogical characteristics of NOA occurred in soils have been reported in Korea. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the mineralogical characteristics of NOA occurred in soils at Daero-ri area, Seosan, Chungnam Province, Korea. Sedimentation method was used for particle size separation of the asbestos-containing soils. XRD and PLM analyses were used to characterize mineralogical characteristics and mineral assemblages in soils. SEM-EDS and TEM-EDS analyses were used to characterize mineral morphology and chemical composition. Particle size analyses of the asbestos-containing soils showed they were composed of 26-93% sand, 4-23% silt and 3-70% clay. Soil texture of the soils was mainly sand, sandy loam, sandy clay, and clay. PLM analyses of the soil showed that most of the soil contained asbestiform tremolite and actinolite. The average content of asbestos in the soil was 1.5 wt. %. Therefore, the soil can be classified into asbestos-contaminated soils based on U. S. Environmental Protection Agency classification (content of asbestos in contaminated soil > 1%). Morphologically different types of tremolite such as long fibrous, needle-like, fiber bundle, bladed and prismatic forms co-existed. Prismatic tremolite was dominant in sand fraction and asbestiform tremolite was dominant in silt fraction. This study indicates that the prismatic form of tremolite transform gradually into a fibrous form of tremolite due to soil weathering because tremolite asbestos was mainly existed in silt fraction rather than sand fraction.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.309-322
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• 2018

Naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) occurs in rocks and soils as a result of natural weathering and human activities. It is proved that inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to increase risk of developing several diseases such as lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma. The parent rocks of asbestos have been mainly associated with (ultra)mafic and carbonate rock. The previous studies on NOA were mainly limited to (ultra)mafic rock-hosted asbestos, but studies on carbonate rock-hosted asbestos are relatively rare in S. Korea. Therefore, this study was aimed to examine mineralogical characteristics of carbonate rock-hosted NOA at three sites including Muju and Jangsu, Jeonbuk province and Asan, Chungnam province. Types of rocks at the three sites mainly consisted of Precambrian metasedimentary rocks, carbonate rock, and Cretaceous and Jurassic granites. Asbestos-containing carbonate rock samples were obtained for mineralogical characterization. XRD, PLM, EPMA, SEM and EDS analyses were used to characterize mineralogical characteristics of the carbonate rock-hosted NOA. From the carbonate rock, fibrous minerals were occurred acicular and columnar forms in the three sites. Fibrous minerals were composed of mainly tremolite and associated minerals included possibly asbestos containing materials (ACM) such as talc, vermiculite, and sepiolite. The length and aspect ratios of tremolite were similar to the standard asbestiform (length >$5{\mu}m$, length:width = 3:1). These results indicate that both non-asbestiform and asbestiform tremolite with acicular forms occurred in carbonate rocks at three sites. Geological and geochemical characteristics and mineral assemblages indicate tremolite and associated minerals might be formed by hydrothermal alternation and/or hydrothermal veins of carbonate rocks due to intrusion of acidic igneous rocks.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.434-441
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• 2014

This study is purposed to measure airborne asbestos concentrations at demolition sites and surrounding areas of asbestos containing buildings in Seoul and examine whether the measurement results correspond with allowable exhaust standard for asbestos of the Asbestos Safety Control Act. The airborne asbestos concentrations for 37 sites were below the detection limit ($7fiber/mm^2$) in 101 (35%) out of 288 samples. The whole average airborne asbestos concentration in 37 sites was $0.003{\pm}0.002f/cc$(max 0.0013 f/cc) and almost the whole airborne asbestos concentrations were satisfied with allowable exhaust standard for asbestos, 0.01 f/cc, of the Asbestos Safety Control Act. So possibility of asbestos exposure is not yet a major concern at current levels for sites demolished of asbestos containing buildings in Seoul. Looking at each sampling point, the average airborne asbestos concentrations in boundary line of site, entrance of sanitation, around the workplace (in), around the workplace (out), negative pressure units, storage area for waste, outlet for waste and residential area of residents were respectively $0.002{\pm}0.002f/cc$, $0.004{\pm}0.002f/cc$, $0.004{\pm}0.002f/cc$, $0.004{\pm}0.002f/cc$, $0.004{\pm}0.002f/cc$, $0.005{\pm}0.004f/cc$, $0.005{\pm}0.003f/cc$ and $0.003{\pm}0.002f/cc$. As a result, all sampling points of study were satisfied with allowable exhaust standard for asbestos, 0.01 f/cc, of the Asbestos Safety Control Act.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.63-71
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• 2016

Soil filling or replacement are routinely applied for soil restoration of domestic asbestos waste contaminated areas. However, since these soil recovery methods could not fundamentally solve the asbestos contamination, number of research on new alternative technologies have been carried. In this study, comprehensive laboratory test results utilizing wind power apparatus are used to design wind power purification device that can be applied in practice. Preliminary tests were carried out with wollastonite or actual asbestos waste contamination soils to study purification efficiency. Asbestos content measured immediately after in-situ test on asbestos-contaminated soil satisfying for purification standard showing less than 0.25% asbestos content from all tests, hence, analyzed to ensure over 90% of clean soil recovery rate and considered to be excellent applicability of future asbestos-contaminated soil purification.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.68-78
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• 2010

The purpose of this study, fire officials during the field activities find causes fugitive dust of containing asbestos is the seriousness of the phenomenon is a threat case and through questionnaires, during on-site activities to prevent exposure to asbestos is effectively. Analysis of the relationship to field activities of fire officials and about the dangers of asbestos dust, asbestos cancer caused by asbestos, and to protect fire officials from the same disease like malignant mesothelioma, by varying the conditions of irrational, fire officials at the scene activities in advance of a deadly hazard is aimed to eliminate through optimization of organizational management and a safe and pleasant working conditions for fire officials through the deadly hazards at the scene of action is aimed to obviate. Also according to asbestos exposure by wearing protective equipment as well as thoroughly strengthen firefighting, firefighting awards to recognize the seriousness of the hazard factors, disease and provide compensation to the legal system, for diseases not yet recognized officially recognized by disaster supplemented by institutional, fire officials to improve morale and working conditions, etc. versus expectations is to improve public services.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.613-623
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• 2013

This study is purposed to evaluate the airborne asbestos concentrations in life environment surroundings in Seoul. In study, we investigated airborne asbestos concentrations in thirteen subway stations, four monitoring networks and each vicinity roadside, six stream surroundings, four tunnels quarterly and we also investigated relationship between the airborne asbestos concentrations and ambient temperature in monitoring networks and time-based airborne asbestos concentration variability for two typical monitoring networks, two subway stations transferred and used by lots of people through Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The airborne asbestos concentrations by PCM for 4 objects of study were less than the detection limit (7 fiber/$mm^2$) in 111 (50%) out of 223 samples. The highest concentration was 0.0130 f/cc. But additional TEM analysis result for samples exceeding the guideline value for indoor air quality (0.01 f/cc) proposed by the Ministry of Environment (Korea), no asbestos was detected. Similarly TEM analysis result for 124 samples, no asbestos was detected. The average airborne asbestos concentrations by PCM in subway stations, monitoring networks, streams and tunnels were $0.0041{\pm}0.0027$ f/cc, $0.0015{\pm}0.0011$ f/cc, $0.0024{\pm}0.0012$ f/cc and $0.0016{\pm}0.0020$ f/cc. All objects of study were satisfied with the guideline value for indoor air quality. The relationship between the airborne asbestos concentrations and ambient temperature in monitoring networks was generally positive correlation (r = 0.660). The higher ambient temperature was and the more transient population was, the airborne asbestos concentrations by time for two subway stations were increased. While the airborne asbestos concentrations for two monitoring networks showed no variation pattern according to time.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.77-88
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• 2016

Chrysotile is a 1:1 sheet silicate mineral belonging to serpentine group. It has been highlighted studies because of uses, shapes and structural characteristics of the fibrous chrysotile. However, it was designated as Class 1 carcinogen, so high attentions were being placed on detoxification studies of chrysotile. The objectives of this study were to investigate changes of mineralogical characteristics of chrysotile and to suggest detoxification mechanism of chrysotile by thermal decomposition. Samples for this study were obtained from LAB Chrysotile mine in Canada. The samples were heated in air in the range of 600 to $1,300^{\circ}C$. Changes of mineralogical characteristics such as crystal structure, shape, and chemical composition of the chrysotile fibers were examined by TG-DTA, XRD, FT-IR, TEM-EDS and SEM-EDS analyses. As a result of thermal decomposition, the fibrous chrysotile having hollow tube structure was dehydroxylated at $600-650^{\circ}C$ and transformed to disordered chrysotile by removal of OH at the octahedral sheet (MgOH) (Dehydroxylation 1). Upon increasing temperature, it was transformed to forsterite ($Mg_2SiO_4$) at $820^{\circ}C$ by rearrangement of Mg, Si and O (Dehydroxylation 2). In addition, crystal structure of forsterite had begun to transform at $800^{\circ}C$, and gradually grown 3-dimensionally to enstatite ($MgSiO_3$) by recrystallization after the heating above $1,100^{\circ}C$. And then finally transformed to spherical minerals. This study showed chrysotile structure was collapsed about $600-700^{\circ}C$ by dehydroxylation. And then the fibrous chrysotile was transformed to forsterite and enstatite, as non-hazardous minerals. Therefore, this study indicates heat treatment can be used to detoxification of chrysotile.