Shadung Moja
Council of Geoscience, South Africa
Title: Characterization of surface and trapped dust samples collected from human settlements that are in the vicinity of abandoned and ownerless mine tailings in Mpumalanga province, South Africa
Biography
Biography: Shadung Moja
Abstract
Asbestos mining was banned in South Africa because of the health effects that are linked to the inhalation of asbestos dust / fibres. Most of asbestos mine tailingsin Mpumalanga Province are not rehabilitated and dust / fibres could easily be lifted and transported by wind, and then settle in sensitive areas like human settlements. Surface and trapped dust samples were collected around human settlements thatare in the vicinity of five abandoned and ownerless asbestos mine tailingsin October 2015. After collection, surface dust samples weresieved with a 100 µm pore size stainless steel sieve to remove large dust particles. Trapped dust material was collected around the window panesin houses, surfaces of furniture and on windscreens of old cars. Surface and trapped dust samples were treated in the laboratory in preparation of Scanning Electron Microscope – Energy Dispersive X- ray (SEM – EDX), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)analyses. Both, the amphibole and serpentine asbestos mineral groups were detected in most indoor and outdoor dust samples. Other dominant minerals detected include the quartz, chlorites, plagioclase, calcite, talc, pyroxene, dolomite, mica, feldspar, clay and iron oxide. Industrial and biological materials that include fly ash particles, organic fibre and fibre glass were detected. The morphological and elemental composition results will also be covered in the paper. But, the continued presence of the dangerous asbestos minerals where humans live is of concern.