1

Reclamation of the Fibronit plant in Bari.

2

Reclamation of the Fibronit plant in Bari.

- the Asbestos risk;

- the risk assessment of the ex-Fibronit plant and its reclamation;

- the outdoor monitoring of the ex-Fibronit area.

3

Asbestos riskAsbestos:

a calcium-magnesium silicate mineral of flexible or elastic fibers.

Chrysotile Asbestos fibers.

Mineral type Asbestos type Chemical formulae

Serpentine (flexible fibers - smaller than amphibole asbestos)

Chrysotile or white asbestos Mg3[Si2O5](OH)4

Actinolite Ca2(MgFe)5Si8O22(OH)2

Amosite or brown asbestos (MgFe)7Si8O22(OH)2

Anthophyllite Mg7Si8O22(OH)2

Crocidolite or blue asbestos Na2Fe2(FeMg)3Si8O22(OH)2

Amphibole (elastic fibers)

Tremolite Ca2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2

4

Asbestos riskFeatures:

high resistance to chemical and physical agents.Use:

mixed with other elements.

The Asbestos was widely used in the construction industry like asbestos-cement.

Banned in Italy (Law 257/1992)

5

Asbestos risk

Weathering of fibrous asbestos sheeting showing loose fibers

Asbestos poses risk if the fibers become dislodged and thus they can be inhaled.The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause: Asbestosis; Malignant Lung Cancer; Peritoneal and Pleural Mesothelioma.

Other asbestos-related diseases are: Asbestos warts; Diffuse pleural thickening; Pleural plaques.

6

The Fibronit risk assessment and its reclamation

The Fibronit, active for 50 years (1935 - 1985), was one of the biggest Italian makers of asbestos-cement manufactures;

they mainly produced pipes, plates and other special parts in cement with a percentage of asbestos ranging from 15 to 20%.Moreover, the plant itself consisted of several buildings with roofs completely made up of “onduline” in asbestos-cement.Nowadays this plant spreads on an area of about 9 hectares and is surrounded by urban agglomeration.

7

The Fibronit risk assessment and its reclamation

The matrixes of asbestos founded in the ex-Fibronit site were:– compact matrix asbestos;– friable matrix asbestos;– loose fibers asbestos.

All materials containing asbestos were removed from the ex-Fibronit plant.

8

The Fibronit risk assessment and its reclamation

Before the removal the products containing asbestos were encapsulated with a special varnish in order to limit the release of fibers.

The waste generated within the yard was placed in thick bags, identified with a waste identification code and sent for the disposal to special waste dumps.

9

The outdoor monitoring of ex Fibronit area.A monitoring network was installed, outside the ex-Fibronit, by the ARPA Puglia Provincial Department of Bari.

It consisted of 4 control units taking air samples by aspiration at constant flow, of fixed volumes of air through membrane filters made up of mixed cellulose esters and having pores with a diameter of 0.8 micrometers.

These units were planned according to asbestos legislation including also the Ministerial Decree 06/09/1994.

10

The outdoor monitoring of ex Fibronit area.

The concentration of the “natural environment fund” of asbestos loose fibers resulted to be 0.33 f/l.

Chrysotile Asbestos fibers (SEM micrograph)

Never detected limits exceeding twice the “ natural environment fund“, that is 0.66 f/l, which represents the danger level.

11

ConclusionAt present, in the ex Fibronit plant, the perimeter walls of each building are still standing; they will be

involved in a specific plan of complete demolition.

While waiting for this demolition, the Arpa Puglia is still monitoring the area outside the plant with 4 sequential units, in order to define the concentration of airborne fibers.

A natural park will be built in the ex-Fibronit area as soon as it is completely reclaimed.

.