• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.10-18
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• 2011

This study presents a state of the art in evaluation on naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) areas and effective strategies for investigation and management of NOA areas in Korea. First of all, we defined and classified the NOA area as compiling various countries' regulations, then discussed the best methods for evaluation and management of NOA for reducing exposure of asbestos in the vicinity of NOA areas. According to the literature survey, a three-steps management strategy was suggested in this study. The first step is a confirmation stage of asbestos contamination possibility and the second step is an assessment stage of asbestos contamination using investigation, analysis, evaluation and reclamation. The final step is a following-up control stage. These three management steps for NOA area will give the maximum effectiveness of NOA control in Korea.

• Journal of odor and indoor environment
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.330-336
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to determine whether crops and fruits absorb the naturally occurring asbestos (NOA). The concentration of asbestos in various crops and fruits grown in NOA areas was analyzed and background levels of asbestos in ambient air and soil samples were assessed. Actinolite/Tremolite asbestos were detected in all soil samples. Among 21 ambient air samples, 2 samples were recorded to contain 0.0005 f/cc (fiber per cubic centimeter) but no asbestos was detected in the other samples using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). However, no evidence suggesting that the crops and fruits could be contaminated by NOA was found in this study. The excess lifetime cancer risks (ELCRs) of ABS scenarios (agricultural activities) used in this study were calculated by using the Arithmetic (AM) and Geometric mean (GM) of ELCRs. The AM and GM of ELCRs estimated from digging soil and weeding activities did not exceed $1{\times}10^{-4}$, which was defined as the general acceptable risk range for exposure. The results of this study would be informative to NOA managers and related policy makers to make plans to prevent unexpected exposure to asbestos to residents living in an NOA area.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.245-256
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• 2017

Objectives: The present study is aimed at performing real-time measurement of fibrous materials using an F-1 fiber monitor, investigating the correlations between the measurements and environmental conditions, and assessing the feasibility of the use of the monitor in actual exposure assessments based on the accuracy and reliability of the device. Methods: Asbestos specimens with a fixed asbestos content were dispersed in a chamber and collected with a particle measuring test device. Measurements obtained by the existing PCM method, and with the F-1 fiber monitor were compared. In addition, concentrations of asbestos fibers obtained by the PCM method, the TEM method, and the F-1 fiber monitor were compared with that of specific ABS scenarios in NOA regions. Correlations of asbestos contents in soil and weather conditions with each method of measurement were analyzed. Results: Laboratory results showed that levels of asbestos fibers measured with each method increased as fiber contents in soil increased. In the accuracy and reproducibility assessment, no significant differences were found between the different methods of measurement. On-site assessment results showed positive correlations among the methods, and these correlations were less significant compared with what was shown by the laboratory results. Levels of asbestos fibers increased as asbestos contents in soil increased, and as temperature increased. Levels of asbestos fibers decreased as humidity increased, and wind speed did not significantly affect the extent to which asbestos fibers were scattered. Conclusions: While it would be premature to replace existing methods with the use of F-1 fiber monitors in real sites based on the results of this study, the monitor may be useful in the screening of the sites, which assesses hazard levels in different regions. Replacement of existing methods with the use of F-1 fiber monitors may be possible after the limitations identified in this study are overcome, and additional assessment data are obtained and reviewed under different conditions to confirm the reliability of the monitor in future research. Obtained assessment results may be used as basic data for the assessment of asbestos hazard in NOA regions.

• 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.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.467-477
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• 2014

Naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) occurs in rocks and soils as a result of natural weathering and human activities. The asbestos have been associated with ultramafic and mafic rocks, and carbonate rock. The previous studies on NOA were mainly limited to ultramafic and mafic rock-hosted asbestos in Korea. But, studies on carbonatehosted asbestos are relatively rare. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to investigate mineralogical characteristics of carbonate-hosted and metapelite-hosted NOA and to examine genesis of NOA occurred in the both rocks. The study area was Daerori, Seosan, Chungnam Province, Korea. The major rock formation consisted of limestone and schist which have been known to contain asbestos. Sampling was performed at outcrop which contained carbonate rock showing acicular asbestos crystals as well as pegmatitic intrusion that contacted with carbonate rock. PLM, XRD, EPMA, and EDS analyses were used to characterize mineral assemblages, mineralogical characteristics, and crystal habits of amphiboles and other minerals. BSEM images were also used to examine the genesis of asbestos minerals. The amphibole group was observed in all of the carbonate rocks, and actinolite and tremolite were identified in all rocks. These mineral habits were mainly micro-acicular crystals or secondary asbestiform minerals on the surface of non-asbestiform minerals appearing split end of columnar crystals produced by weathering. BSEM images showed residual textures of samples. The residual textures of carbonate rocks showed dolomite-tremolite-diopside mineral assemblages that formed during prograde metasomatism stage. Some carbonate rock also showed diopside-tremolite-talc mineral assemblages which were formed during retrograde metasomatism stage, as the residual textures. In result the presence of asbestos actinolite-tremolite in the carbonate rocks were confirmed in the areas where actinolite-tremolite asbestos was influenced by low temperature hydrothermal solution during metasomatism stage. These asbestos minerals showed the acicular asbestiform minerals, but even non-asbestiform minerals, a bundle or columnar shape, could transform to asbestiform minerals as potential NOA by weathering because the end of columnar shape of non-asbestiform minerals appeared as multiple acicular shaped fibers.

• 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).