Asbestos and talc: determination of the fibrous mineral particle content in commercial pulverized talc using combined optical microscope technics
Marconi, A.; Maccione, M.; Rossi, L.
La Medicina del Lavoro 77(5): 496-510
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-7818 PMID: 3025572 Document Number: 3805
Nineteen industrial, pharmaceutical and cosmetic talc samples sold on the Italian market were examined by optical microscopy techniques (phase contrast and dispersion staining) in order to assess their mineral fibre content. The percentage by count of asbestos fibres respect to total particles was in the range<0.2-3.2. Chrysotile and amphiboles (tremolite and/or antophyllite) fibres were found in most samples. The amphibole particles were often present in fragment form. Chrysotile fibres nearly always showed diameters of '. 0.3 μm and aspect ratios of>10:1; most of the amphibole fibres had diameters between 0.5 and 2μm and aspect ratios between 3:1 and<10:1. In the majority of samples an asbestos weight percentage considerably less than 1% was found.
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