2-3. ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS CAUSED BY MINERLAS Types of Environmental Problems Direct (Primary) – Caused by mineral itself Ingestion Aspiration Contact Secondary – Caused by the results of reactions or other processes involving minerals (e.g. acid rain, acid mine drainages, water pollution, etc.)

Yellow dust in Seoul

Particulates & Health (Potentially) hazardous minerals Fibrous: Asbestos, erionite, mordenite, palygorskite, sepiolite, brucite, chlorite, goethite, lepidocrosite Nonfibrous: Silica (quartz), kaolinite, vermiculite, talc, mica, boehmite

Asbestos (serpentine) Mordenite Vermiculite Mica (muscovite)

Potential health hazards by particulate matter (PM) Pneumoconiosis Silicosis Asbestosis Other respiratory diseases Cancers: Lung, stomach, esophagus Pleural plaques, diffuse thickening Mesothelioma

Asbestos Introduction Asbestos:  “inquenchable” “inextinguishable” Fibrous silicate minerals: serpentine & amphiboles White, brown, blue & others

tremolite crocidolite chrysotile Asbestos fibre From

Properties & Use Properties: Mineral: insulation (heat, electricity), resistance against fire & chemical reaction, incombustibility Fibre: flexibility, capability of being woven, sound- absorbing Uses (See the table on the next page)

PropertiesApplication examples Fire resistance, flame retardance, heat insulation Building materials- interior and outside Fire-proof materials, e.g. cloths Seals for heaters and ovens Heat insulators Electric insulation Insulators for pipes and electrical devices Commutators Resistance against chemical reactions (corrosion) Chemical filters, Paints Gaskets Experimental apparatuses Sound absorptionSound absorbing board

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Brief History B.C. ca. 3,000 Scandinavian remains – used in porcelain and filler among the logs 1C : Greek island Evvoia – Asbestos mining querry Early Greek-Roman: unflammable clothes and building materials Pliny the Elder: Thought to be used for the protection from the curse Pliny the Elder (23-79), a.k.a. Caius Plinius Secundus, Gaius Plinius Secundis. Author of the grand encyclopedia "Naturalis Historiae".

Ancient Egyptian: Used for Parao’s mummy Ancient Persian: Imported from China, Used for the cloths for deaths, thought as feather of saramanda (phoenix) Others: Lamp wick of tomb, Cure for itching Saramanda on a tile from ancient Iranian heritage

14 In medieval times, asbestos was frequently used for the insulation of armor Some fraud merchants made cross with asbestos and deceive people with it as if that was a part of the cross on which Jesus Christ was nailed (hung, executed)

1897, A doctor diagnosed lung malfunctioning due to aspiration of asbestos dust in Vienna Early 1900s, speculated a relation between the pulmonary disease/fatality of miners and the asbestos aspiration 1906, documented the evidence of fibrosis by post mortem exam 1908, Metropolitan Insurance co. charged higher fees for asbestos workers 1923, Dr. Cook studied the death of number of asbestos handling workers and first named the disease ‘asbestosis’

1931, the term “mesothelioma” first used 1930s, Regulations included industrial hygiene standards, medical examinations, and inclusion of the asbestos industry into the British Workers' Compensation Act 1970s, an USA court document indicate that asbestos co. hided the fatality of asbestos from the workers 1970s, EPA & OSHA put regulations on asbestos use Now, the asbestos is totally banned in most countries

Asbestos production and consumption Global production (10,000 ton/year) Japan (ton/year) China Korea

Now, the usage of asbestos is banned or limited in most countries For Korea, From , asbestos is banned to be used in any industrial product From , any product containing asbestos is banned to import, produce, or use. Korea’s regulation on asbestos “ENFORCEMENT DECREE OF THE QUALITY CONTROL AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS ACT”  Asbestos use in any industrial product had been banned or at least limited since Sep “OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT”.  Manufacturing, importing, or usage of any product containing asbestos has been completely banned since Sep. 1, 2009.

World Asbestos Resources CountryReserve Base (By Principal Countries) BrazilModerate CanadaLarge ChinaLarge KazakhstanLarge RussiaLarge USALarge ZimbabweModerate Other CountriesLarge World TotalLarge Source : Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2004.

World Asbestos Producers Country (By Principal Countries)Production of Asbestos(in '000' tonnes) Brazil Canada China258220(e)210(e) Kazakhstan Russia735775(e)878(e) Zimbabwe Other Countries World Total Source : World Mineral Production

Impacts on Health