engleski

The concentration of asbestos fibers in the air in the town of Ploče – polarized light and scanning electron microscopy

In order to determine the concentration of asbestos fibres in air from six locations at the town of Ploče and the Neretva River Delta were sampled. Positions were at the surrounding factory Novi Plobest Ltd, near the police building and the train station, in a populated place Stablina, the Open University, at the location Lovornik where is situated municipal waste landfill and cassette disposal of asbestos waste, and in the port next to the hotel. Sampling was conducted in November of 2011. Samples were analyzed by means of polarized light (PLM) and scanning electron (SEM) microscopy. Comparative analysis showed that there is not significantly difference between the results of asbestos fibre concentrations obtained PLM and SEM methodology. At locations surrounding the factory Novi Plobest, settlement Stablina and the Open University respirable size asbestos in air was not found. Asbestos fibres of respirable size were detected in the air at the police station and the harbour. At the location near the police building and the train station SEM methodology was measured concentration of 0.0001 fibres/cm3 and PLM 0, 002 fibres/cm3. At the location in the harbour near the hotel, concentration of asbestos fibres in air was 0.0001 fibres/cm3 by SEM, and 0.003 fibres/cm3 by PLM microscopy. At the measuring location Lovornik municipal waste landfill and cassette disposal of asbestos waste, concentration of asbestos fibres in air was found to be by PLM 0.001 fibres/cm3, while the SEM methodology determined concentration of asbestos at the site to be 0.0001 fibres/cm3. Obtained positive values of respirable asbestos fibres by PLM and SEM methodology in the general environment in the city of Ploče and Neretva delta are below that specified by the Croatian Occupational Safety and Health Law (NN 59/96, 94/96, 114/03 and 100/04), and the Risks related to exposure of workers to asbestos bylaw (NN 40/07), where the Article 9. instruct that the eight-hour time-adjusted average single worker is allowed to be exposed to a concentration of asbestos in the air no more than 0.1 fibres per cm3.

PLM ; SEM ; asbestos in air ; microscopy

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