Soil contamination caused by chrysotile and antigorite fibres during serpentinite mining in oofiten rock in south-western Poland

This study was designed to assess mineral fibres as soil contamination from serpentinite mining and milling. A comparison was made between current contamination of soil (avg. 0.049 wt%) and that of about 27 years ago at the same site (0.004 - 0.012 % wt.). The soil samples were pre-treated to extract the fibre concentrate using electrostatic separation. Qualitative fibre analysis was carried out using PLM, SEM-EDS and XRD. In addition to chrysotile asbestos fibres, antigorite fibres were also detected, as well as amphibole asbestos fibres. Due to their similar shape, elemental composition and biological activity, chrysotile and antigorite fibres were analysed together as elongated minerals particles. Their presence in air, on plants and in soil was confirmed. A comparison of current results with those from previous years has shown a reduction in air pollution. However, there was also a more than tenfold increase in average soil contamination (12 times compared to 1996). Unlike soil, the concentration of airborne fibres is highly dependent on changing weather conditions. Soil fibre concentration is an important indicator of environmental fibre pollution.