摘要：Fibrous tremolite is a mineral species belonging to the amphibole group. It is presentalmost everywhere in the world as a natural contaminant of other minerals, like talc andvermiculite. It can be also found as a natural contaminant of the chrysotile form of asbestos.Tremolite asbestos exposures result in respiratory health consequences similar tothe other forms of asbestos exposure, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Althoughabundantly distributed on the earth’s surface, tremolite is only rarely present in significantdeposits and it has had little commercial use. Significant presence of amphibole asbestosfibers, characterized as tremolite, was identified in mineral powders coming fromthe milling of feldspar rocks extracted from a Sardinian mining site (Italy). This evidenceraises several problems, in particular the prevention of carcinogenic risks for the workers.Feldspar is widespread all over the world and every year it is produced in large quantitiesand it is used for several productive processes in many manufacturing industries (over 21million tons of feldspar mined and marketed every year). Until now the presence of tremoliteasbestos in feldspar has not been described, nor has the possibility of such a healthhazard for workers involved in mining, milling and handling of rocks from feldspar oresbeen appreciated. Therefore the need for a wider dissemination of knowledge of theseproblems among professionals, in particular mineralogists and industrial hygienists, mustbe emphasized. In fact both disciplines are necessary to plan appropriate environmentalcontrols and adequate protections in order to achieve safe working conditions.
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