A5032344980- Occupational and environmental lung diseases
- Radioactivity and Radon Measurements
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Mineral Processing and Grinding
- Geological and Geophysical Studies Worldwide
- Aluminum toxicity and tolerance in plants and animals
- earthquake and tectonic studies
- Occupational exposure and asthma
- Air Quality and Health Impacts
- Mineralogy and Gemology Studies
- High-pressure geophysics and materials
- Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
- Molecular spectroscopy and chirality
- Cassava research and cyanide
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Spectroscopy Techniques in Biomedical and Chemical Research
- Municipal Solid Waste Management
- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Health, Environment, Cognitive Aging
- Nanoparticles: synthesis and applications
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- TiO2 Photocatalysis and Solar Cells
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Analytical Chemistry and Chromatography
University of Turin
2019-2025
Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources
2023
National Research Council
2023
University of Parma
2015-2020
University of New Caledonia
2015-2020
University of Milano-Bicocca
2019
Serpentinites are rocks, often used in buildings, formed large extent by minerals of the serpentine group: chrysotile, antigorite, lizardite, and polygonal serpentine. The fibrous type (e.g. chrysotile) group minerals, along with several amphibole varieties actinolite tremolite), major components asbestos family. exposure to fine powder is linked diseases such as pleural mesothelioma asbestosis. identification main group, laminated or fibrous, becomes an issue great interest for public...
In the last few decades, non-occupational asbestos-related diseases have been documented in populations living near naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) sites, including regions Greece, Cyprus, China, New Caledonia, Turkey, and Italy. This highlights critical need to assess geological environmental hazards associated with NOA. Fibrous antigorite, among >400 fibrous minerals, has emerged as a potential health hazard. work examines morphometrical, mineralogical surface properties of antigorite...
The potential toxicity of lunar dust (LD), as reported by Apollo astronauts, presents significant concerns for future missions involving extended human presence on the Moon. LD is hypothesized to be driven oxidative stress linked its redox-active properties, with nanophase metallic iron (np-Fe⁰) embedded in glassy matrix potentially playing a critical role. However, specific mechanisms underlying remain unclear. Environmental changes atmospheric settings may modify LD's reactivity...
Asbestos fibres have been a key component of man-made artefacts and industrial products, collectively known as Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACMs), due to their exceptional technological properties, recognized since ancient times. These including non-flammability, chemical resistance, remarkable flexibility, binder property made asbestos widely used material in cultural artistic objects worldwide.The earliest evidence asbestos-containing dates back the Neolithic period, when was added...
The toxicity of lunar dust (LD), anecdotally reported by Apollo astronauts, raises concerns for future missions involving prolonged human presence on the Moon. LD is thought to involve oxidative stress driven nanophase metallic iron (np-Fe0), a peculiar feature LD. In life-supporting habitat, np-Fe0 embedded in amorphous phases may react with O2 prior accessing lung, complicating assessments. Due limited availability real samples, toxicological evaluations rely simulants (LDS). A novel...
Air quality is a main determinant of human and animal respiratory health. Among species, racehorses are particularly sensitive to the effects increased respirable dust levels1.In equine medicine, lower airway inflammatory conditions commonly encountered significant cause poor performance major concern for welfare2.Respiratory diseases in horses associated with exposure organic derived from bedding feed materials3. However, potential contribution inorganic mineral dust, such as crystalline...
In Naturally Occurring Asbestos (NOA) rich areas, water flows through asbestos bearing rocks and soils generates waterborne fibres that may migrate in air become a risk for humans. Research on the migration dispersion after vaporisation has been so far only marginally evaluated. This study investigates of from set suspensions contaminated by chrysotile Balangero (Italy), under controlled laboratory conditions. We evaluated i) morphological modifications might occur to during air, ii) amount...
Covered by ultrabasic units for more than a third of its surface, the New Caledonia (South West Pacific) is one largest world producers Ni-ore from lateritic deposits. Almost all outcrops geological and open mines contain serpentine amphibole, also as asbestos varieties. In this context, in which weathering processes had great contribution production dispersion mineral fibres into environment, development routinely analytical strategy, able to discriminate an asbestiform fibre non-harmful...
The investigated mantle bodies from the External Ligurians (Groppo di Gorro and Mt. Rocchetta) show evidences of a complex evolution determined by an early high temperature metasomatism, due to percolating melts asthenospheric origin, later metasomatism at relatively hydrothermal fluids, with formation rodingites. At Groppo Gorro, serpentinization chloritization processes obliterated totally pyroxenite protolith, whereas Rocchetta relics peridotite protoliths were preserved serpentinization....
Exposure to natural occurrences of asbestos (NOA) and other potentially hazardous elongated mineral particles (EMPs) may pose a risk human health the environment. Weathering forces anthropic activities alter cohesion NOA-bearing outcrops disperse EMPs in air, water, soil. The current paradigm for fibre toxicity indicates that morphology crystal chemistry are key parameters determining toxicological properties mineral. This work aims assess discuss impact sub-tropical supergene alteration...
The environmental impact of natural occurrences asbestos (NOA) and asbestos-like minerals is a growing concern for protection agencies. lack shared sampling analytical procedures hinders effectively addressing this issue. To investigate the hazard posed by NOA, multidisciplinary approach that encompasses geology, mineralogy, chemistry, toxicology proposed demonstrated here, on occurrence antigorite from site in Varenna Valley, Italy. Antigorite is, together with chrysotile asbestos, one...
While exposure to long amphibolic asbestos fibers (L > 10 µm) results in the development of severe diseases including inflammation, fibrosis, and mesothelioma, pathogenic activity associated with short < 5 is less clear. By exposing murine macrophages (SFA) or (LFA) amosite different size surface chemistry, we observed that SFA internalization resulted pyroptotic-related immunogenic cell death (ICD) characterized by release pro-inflammatory damage signal (DAMP) IL-1α after inflammasome...
Asbestos inhalation is associated with fatal respiratory diseases and raises concerns from the perspective of workplace safety environmental impacts. asbestos-like minerals naturally occur in rocks may become airborne when outcrops or soils are disturbed by anthropic activities. In situ detection these a crucial step for risk evaluation natural sites. We assess here whether portable Raman spectrometer (pRS) be used identification asbestos at mining front during exploitation. pRS performance...
Abstract. The serpentine mineral lizardite displays strong Raman anisotropy in the OH-stretching region, resulting significant wavenumber shifts (up to ca. 14.5 cm−1) that depend on orientation of impinging excitation laser relative crystallographic axes. We quantified relationship between and using well-characterised samples Monte Fico by applying spectroscopy electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) mapping thin sections polycrystalline grain mounts selected single crystals, as well a...
ABSTRACT The rising awareness about the risk due to asbestos environmental exposure has led a new interest in investigation of non-regulated mineral fibers. Evidence chronic diseases been described individuals exposed naturally occurring asbestiform (NOA) minerals Turkey (erionite), Italy (fluoro-edenite), and United States (winchite/richterite). In New Caledonia, an increased incidence asbestos-related was correlated with natural occurrence fibrous serpentines chrysotile fibro-lamellar...
Anatase nanoparticles in suspension have demonstrated high photoactivity that can be exploited for pollutant removal water phases. The main drawback of this system is the difficulty recovering (and eventually reusing) after their use, and possible interference inorganic salts (e.g., sulfates) reduce performance photocatalyst. present work describes development a cordierite-honeycomb-supported TiO2 film to eliminate problems catalyst recovery. was then tested against phenol presence...
Exposure to asbestos and asbestos-like minerals has been related the development of severe lung diseases, including cancer malignant mesothelioma (MM). A high incidence non-occupational MM was observed in New Caledonia (France) people living proximity serpentinite outcrops, containing chrysotile fibrous antigorite. Antigorite is a magnesium silicate, which shares with chemical formula. To achieve information on antigorite toxicity, we investigated physico-minero-chemical features relevant...
ABSTRACT The Valmalenco area (central Alps, northern Italy) is an excellent case study for naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) because of the huge outcrops serpentinites and widespread quarrying mining activities. Extensive sampling rocks, soils, stream sediments, airborne has been in progress since 2004. combined use scanning electron microscopy transmission proven to be effective correct discrimination between asbestiform non-asbestiform mineralogical varieties (but falling into World...
&lt;p&gt;Open-pit nickel mining is the main economic activity in New Caledonia. Lateritic Ni-ore deposits formed on weathered ultrabasic rock cover more than a third of territory. However, among mineral phases that make up these laterites, some belong to asbestos family and have capacity emit pathogenic fibres. The inhalation air polluted by such fibres may lead severe respiratory diseases; penetrate deep into lungs causing at worst malignant...
The natural occurrence of asbestos and asbestos-like minerals (NOA) poses a risk to the environment human health, notably when processes anthropic activities promote fibre dispersion. Hundreds potentially hazardous elongate mineral particles (EMPs, NIOSH 2011 definition) exist, their toxicological profile is often unknown. We aim here define general approach, from field analysis nano-structural investigation, assess whether fibrous occurring in specific site could pose health. To evaluate...
Studies on naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) and the relevant geo-environmental problems have been traditionally focused metamorphic rocks (and, more recently, magmatic rocks). Besides these 'primary' occurrences (i.e., those related to in situ growth of NOA minerals), 'secondary', detrital may occur sediments, sedimentary soils derived from erosion bearing rocks.The occurrence sediments is increasingly recognized worldwide. However, a few studies exist that investigate 'sedimentology NOA',...
Abstract The natural occurrence of asbestos and asbestos-like minerals (NOA) poses a risk to the environment human health, notably when processes anthropic activities promote fibre dispersion. Hundreds potentially hazardous elongated mineral particles (EMPs, NIOSH 2011 definition) exist, their toxicological profile is often unknown. We aim here define general approach, from field analysis nano-structural investigation, assess whether fibrous occurring in specific site could pose health. To...