Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate that has been widely used as electrical insulator and heat-resistant material in buildings, yet inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to serious lung diseases such as asbestosis and cancer. Practically no research has been conducted on the size distribution and morphological characteristics of airborne asbestos, and airborne asbestos concentrations in South Korea are unknown. Here we studied type, concentration, size, morphology and composition of asbestos fibers in the ambient air of several regions in South Korea. Asbestos concentrations were analyzed in 7 urban areas, 7 rural areas including agricultural and fishing areas, 17 mines and their surrounding areas, 7 residential areas constructed with asbestos-containing stones near rivers, 2 baseball fields and 2 background sites. Results show that the highest air asbestos concentrations were 0.00161 for residential areas and 0.00122 for baseball fields according to phase-contrast microscopy, and 0.00057 for asbestos mines and 0.00055 for baseball fields, according to transmission electron microscopy. Asbestos types included chrysotile, tremolite, and actinolite. Chrysotile fibers measured 5.24–35.5 µm in length with aspect ratios of 12.6–202.6; tremolite fibers measured 6.07–40.2 µm in length with aspect ratios of 5.7–81.2; and actinolite fibers measured 5.01–28.5 µm in length with aspect ratios of 3.2–108.9. Chrysotile was distributed in bundles or single fibers, whereas tremolite and actinolite exhibited fibrous, acicular, and cleavage forms.

石棉是一种天然存在的纤维状硅酸盐，已被广泛用作建筑物的电绝缘体和耐热材料，但是吸入石棉纤维会导致严重的肺部疾病，例如石棉沉着症和癌症。几乎没有关于空气传播的石棉的大小分布和形态特征的研究，并且韩国的空气传播的石棉浓度是未知的。在这里，我们研究了韩国几个地区环境空气中的石棉纤维的类型，浓度，大小，形态和组成。分析了7个城市地区，7个农村地区（包括农业和渔业地区），17个矿山及其周围地区，7个在河边用含石棉的石头建造的居民区，2个棒球场和2个背景地点的石棉浓度。结果显示，根据相差显微镜，居民区的最高空气石棉浓度为0.00161，棒球场的最高为0.00122，石棉矿的最高空气石棉的值为0.0057，棒球场的最高为0.00055。石棉类型包括温石棉，透闪石和阳起石。温石棉纤维的长度为5.24–35.5 µm，长径比为12.6–202.6。透闪石纤维的长度为6.07-40.2 µm，长径比为5.7-81.2；和阳起石纤维的长度为5.01–28.5 µm，长径比为3.2–108.9。温石棉成束或单纤维分布，而透闪石和阳起石表现出纤维状，针状和分裂形式。根据透射电子显微镜，根据相差显微镜，棒球场为00122，石棉矿为0.00057，棒球场为0.00055。石棉类型包括温石棉，透闪石和阳起石。温石棉纤维的长度为5.24–35.5 µm，长径比为12.6–202.6。透闪石纤维的长度为6.07-40.2 µm，长径比为5.7-81.2；和阳起石纤维的长度为5.01–28.5 µm，长径比为3.2–108.9。温石棉成束或单纤维分布，而透闪石和阳起石表现出纤维状，针状和分裂形式。根据透射电子显微镜，根据相差显微镜，棒球场为00122，石棉矿为0.00057，棒球场为0.00055。石棉类型包括温石棉，透闪石和阳起石。温石棉纤维的长度为5.24–35.5 µm，长径比为12.6–202.6。透闪石纤维的长度为6.07-40.2 µm，长径比为5.7-81.2；和阳起石纤维的长度为5.01–28.5 µm，长径比为3.2–108.9。温石棉成束或单纤维分布，而透闪石和阳起石表现出纤维状，针状和分裂形式。长度为5 µm，纵横比为12.6–202.6；透闪石纤维的长度为6.07-40.2 µm，长径比为5.7-81.2；和阳起石纤维的长度为5.01–28.5 µm，长径比为3.2–108.9。温石棉成束或单纤维分布，而透闪石和阳起石表现出纤维状，针状和分裂形式。长度为5 µm，纵横比为12.6–202.6；透闪石纤维的长度为6.07-40.2 µm，长径比为5.7-81.2；和阳起石纤维的长度为5.01–28.5 µm，长径比为3.2–108.9。温石棉成束或单纤维分布，而透闪石和阳起石表现出纤维状，针状和分裂形式。