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Understanding exposure risk using soil testing and GIS around an abandoned asbestos mine
Abhijeet V Jadhav1, Nilesh Gawde1, Ramesh Veerappan1
1Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India.
Annals of Global Health
|January 27, 2025
Summary
Asbestos contamination from an abandoned mine in Roro Hills, India, was found in village soil. This asbestos dust has spread significantly over 13 years, posing a risk to residents.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Geology
- Public Health
Background:
- Abandoned mines, like the one at Roro Hills, India, pose environmental risks.
- Asbestos exposure can persist post-mining if sites are not properly remediated.
- Limited research exists on soil contamination and health risks from abandoned mines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detect asbestos in residential soil near an abandoned mine.
- To map the spread of asbestos dust using GIS analysis.
Main Methods:
- Soil samples from four villages were analyzed for asbestos using scanning electron microscopy.
- Satellite imagery from two time points 13 years apart was compared to assess mine waste spread.
Main Results:
- Chrysotile asbestos was detected in 12 out of 16 residential soil samples.
- Asbestos-contaminated areas expanded by approximately 20% over 13 years.
Conclusions:
- Asbestos is present in residential soil around the Roro Hills mine.
- Contamination has demonstrably spread over time, necessitating further studies and interventions.
