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Volume 8, Issue 8 (Suppl)
J Earth Sci Clim Change
ISSN: 2157-7617 JESCC, an open access journal
Earth Science Congress 2017
September 18-19, 2017
September 18-19, 2017 Hong Kong
6
th
International Conference on
Earth Science and Climate Change
Characterization of settleable dust, surface dust and trapped dust samples from the old and abandoned
asbestos mine dumps in the Limpopo Province, South Africa
Maphuti Georgina Kwata and Shadung J Moja
University of South Africa, South Africa
A
sbestos mining was banned in South Africa because of the health effects that are linked to the inhalation of asbestos dust/
fibers. Asbestos mine dumps in Limpopo Province are partially rehabilitated and surface asbestos dust/fibers could easily
be lifted and transported by wind and settle in sensitive areas. Despite the cessation of asbestos mining in 2002, there is still a
concern about possible environmental exposure to asbestos fibers. The presence of old and abandoned asbestos mine dumps
continue to be a concern to government and local communities. Since old and abandoned asbestos mine dumps are partially
rehabilitated, it is now the government’s responsibility to fund the rehabilitation of the dumps. The aim of this research is to
monitor, measure and characterize settleable dust, surface dust and trapped dust samples collected around local communities
in the vicinity of old and abandoned asbestos mine dumps. The local standard method for collection and analysis of settleable
dust (the South Africa National Dust Control Regulations 827 of 2013 was used in this research. Surface dust samples were
collected using a dust pan, brush, zipper plastic and sieve sample. Trapped dust samples were collected by the using a sticky
tape and stored in containers. Samples were collected from January 2016 to July 2016 in Limpopo Province at five sampling
sites named Site A, Site B, Site C, Site D and Site E. Samples were prepared for analyses with X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning
Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques. The settleable
dust rates are below the residential limit of 600 mg/m2/day. The XRF result confirms the presence of silicates of oxides minerals.
SEM results confirms the presence of amphibole, fiber glass with a strong long spiral shape and particles size of 685 µm, 150 µm
and with different shape granular and sponge like shape with particle size of 430 µm for chlorite, mix spectra of organic fiber
and quartz, organic fiber, smectite, talc and mica. The XRD results confirm presence of 11% of amphibole and specifically 7%
of serpentine within Limpopo Province is a concern due to its contribution to human health problems.
maphuti.kwata@geoscience.org.zaJ Earth Sci Clim Change 2017, 8:8 (Suppl)
DOI: 10.4172/2157-7617-C1-031