Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Screening for asbestos fibre exposure in ambient air in Penge, Limpopo

  • Published:
Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Penge is an asbestos-contaminated area with a high incidence of asbestos-related diseases amongst its residents due to exposure to airborne asbestos fibres. The following paper presents an assessment of asbestos fibre exposure in the ambient air of the area. The objective of the study was to quantify the level of airborne asbestos fibre concentration in an endeavour to understand the health risk to which residents are exposed. The study was carried out based on air analyses data of the area acquired from the Council for Geoscience as well as health risk assessment techniques guided by the Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (EPA, 1989). It was found that the average asbestos fibre concentration in the ambient air of the study area was 0.047 f/mL which is lower than the 0.2 f/mL limit stipulated by the South African government. However, the asbestos fibre concentration in ambient air of the study area is much higher than the 0.0005 f/mL limit stipulated by the World Health Organization. The average cancer risk for all age groups in the study area was 2.08 × 10−3. When compared with the Environmental Protection Agency National Contingency Plan standard which accepts the risks within the range between 10−4 (0.0001) and 10−6 (0.000001), it was found that the results obtained in the study area generally exceed the standard. It is recommended that all of the sources of asbestos in the area be rehabilitated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Due to the nature of this research, participants of this study did not agree for their data to be shared publicly, so supporting data is not available.

References

  • Allen, L.P., Baez, J., Stern, M.E.C. and George, F. (2017). Asbestos economic assessment of bans and declining production and consumption, pg. 1 – 37. World Health Organisation, Copenhagen.

  • ATSDR (2001). Toxicological Profile for Asbestos, pg. 1 – 318. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Washington DC.

  • Basson IJ, Koegelenberg C (2017) Structural controls on Fe mineralization at Thabazimbi Mine, South Africa. Ore Geol Rev 80:1056–1071

  • CSMI (2008). The future of Penge, prospect for the people and the environment, project report and guidelines, pg. 1 - 44. Centre for Sustainability in Mining and Industry, Braamfontein.

  • DEA (2010). Framework for the management of contaminated land, pg. 1 – 48. Department of Environmental Affairs, Pretoria

  • DoL (2018). Draft asbestos abatement regulations, pg. 17 – 41. Department of Labour, Pretoria.

  • DoL (2018). Draft asbestos abatement regulations, pg. 17 – 41. Department of Labour, Pretoria

  • Felix, M. A., Leger, J. P. and Ehrlich, R.I. (1993). Three minerals, three epidemics – asbestos mining and diseases in South Africa. Advance in modern environmental toxicology. Vol. 22, part 1: The identification and control of environmental and occupational disease, pg. 265 – 279. Princeton Scientific Publishing Company Inc. Princeton, N. J.

  • Google Earth (2018) Location of Penge, Limpopo -24.383279° 30.289644°, elevation: 692m, 3D map, Topography data, viewed 19 November 2019. http://www.google.com/earth/index.html.

  • EPA (1989). Risk assessment guidance for superfund volume i human health evaluation manual, pg. 1 – 268. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.

  • EPA (2011). Early warning report: use of unapproved asbestos demolition methods may threaten public health – report No. 12-P-0125. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.

  • Hart HP (1988) Asbestos in South Africa.J South Afr Inst Min Metall 88(6):185–198

  • HSE (2005). Asbestos: the analysts’ guide for sampling, analysis and clearance procedures, pg. 1 – 20. Health and Safety Executive, London.

  • HSE (2012). The control of asbestos regulations 2012, No. 632, pg. 1 – 28. Health and Safety Executive, London

  • HSE (2018). Asbestos-related diseases in Great Britain, 2018 Annual Statistics, pg. 1 – 18. Health and Safety Executive, London.

  • Kwata, M. G., Masindi K., Mtyelwa, O., Malatji, M., Moja, S. J., Motlakeng, T., Malepe, R., Mogudi, L., Ratshalingwa, P. and Ndou, M. (2019). 4th Quarter Report 2018/2019 Integrated rehabilitation monitoring task (unpublished), pg. 4 - 48. Council for Geoscience, Pretoria.

  • Met One Instruments Inc (2011). E-Sampler particulate monitor operation manual revision L, pg. 5 – 60. Met One Instruments Inc, Oregon.

  • Miyano T, Beukes NJ (2006) Mineralogy and petrology of the contact metamorphosed amphibole asbestos-bearing Penge Iron Formation, Eastern Transvaal, South Africa. J Petrol 38(5):651–676

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ndlovu N, Naude J, Murray J (2013) Compensation for environmental asbestos-related diseases in South Africa: a neglected issue. Glob Health Act 6(1):19410–https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v6i0.19410

  • Nel, J. (2006). The current risk of asbestos exposure to the citizens of the Prieska area, Northern Cape Province in South Africa, pg. 1 – 72. Master’s dissertation, North-West University, Potchefstroom.

  • NIOSH (1980). Workplace exposure to asbestos: review and recommendations – DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No.81–103. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Washington, D.C.

  • NIOSH (2018). C – Supplementary exposure limits. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Washington, D.C. Available from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/nengapdxc.html (Accessed 4 June 2019).

  • OSHA (2014). Asbestos fact sheet. Occupational Safety & Health Administration, Washington, D.C. Available from https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3507.html (Accessed 4 June 2019).

  • Pawełczyk A, František B (2015) Health risk associated with airborne asbestos. Environ Monit Assess 187(428):1–11

  • Wei B, Yang L, Zhang X, Zhang B, Yu J, Jia X (2012) Airborne crocidolite asbestos fibers in indoor and outdoor air in a rural area, China. Aerosol Air Qual Res 12:1282–1288

  • WHO (2000). Air quality guidelines for Europe second edition, pg. 1 – 246. World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water and Environment Unit, Council for Geoscience, Pretoria, South Africa

    M. Malatji, S. J. Moja, M. G. Kwata, K. Masindi & O. Mtyelwa

  2. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

    M. Malatji, S. J. Moja, M. G. Kwata, K. Masindi & V. Ngole-Jeme

Authors
  1. M. Malatji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. J. Moja
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. G. Kwata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. K. Masindi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. O. Mtyelwa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. V. Ngole-Jeme
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Malatji.

Additional information

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Malatji, M., Moja, S.J., Kwata, M.G. et al. Screening for asbestos fibre exposure in ambient air in Penge, Limpopo. Air Qual Atmos Health 14, 2073–2078 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-021-01079-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-021-01079-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation