Journal of Hazardous Materials A139 (2007) 9–18 Toxicity evaluation for the broad area of the asbestos mine of northern Greece Kalliopi Anastasiadou, Evangelos Gidarakos ∗ Laboratory of Toxic and Hazardous Waste Management, Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Politechnioupolis, Chania, P.C. 73100, Greece Received 20 March 2006; received in revised form 1 June 2006; accepted 6 June 2006 Available online 16 June 2006 Abstract The existing data regarding the quality of the environment in the asbestos mine of northern Greece (MABE) region related to the presence of asbestos are insufficient to determine the current pollution problem. In the present work, a first approach to this problem has been taken through a toxicity risk assessment. The environmental quality of an open air asbestos mine was evaluated over a long period of time by measuring and monitoring the concentration of asbestos fibres in air, soil and water. Air measurements were made to determine the concentration of asbestos fibres in the atmospheric air of the mine, the depositions and the nearby villages. The asbestos fibre concentration was also specified inside the building facilities of MABE. Analyses of soil, dust and water samples were carried out showing the presence of enormous quantities of chrysotile asbestos. The concentration of asbestos fibres in the atmospheric air was compared to older measurements that were taken at the same sampling points during the operation of the mine. The results of this work, in conjunction with individual researches that have been carried out in the past and with the evaluation of international standards of scientific and experience-based findings, provide a reliable framework with which to estimate the threat of MABE to its surrounding environment, and help to determine a basic criterion for the remediation and rehabilitation of the region. In addition, mathematical models based on human and animal studies were used to estimate the probability of a person developing cancer from breathing air containing asbestos fibres in the wider vicinity of the mine in order to define appropriate procedures for evaluating asbestos-related risk. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Asbestos; Mine; Toxicity; Fibres; Risk assessment 1. Introduction Asbestos is a silicate mineral of fibrous form and has been used for many years as a raw material for the production of a large variety of materials and objects by virtue of its exceptional attributes. Unfortunately asbestos is considered responsible for serious lung diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer that are caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibres and appear usually after a long period of exposure. Legislative regulations have been published by the EU and the USA regarding asbestos, its use, its restriction from the market, the protection of workers as well as the prevention and reduction of environmental pollution. ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +30 2821037789; fax: +30 2821037850. E-mail address: gidarako@mred.tuc.gr (E. Gidarakos). The permissible exposure limit (PEL) for asbestos in Europe is determined at 0.10 fibres/cm 3 (f/cm 3 ) of air as a time-weighted average (TWA) concentration over an 8-h workshift according to the modification of Directive 83/477/EC, with 2003/18/EU [1]. The current Occupational Safety and Health Administra- tion (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) for asbestos is 0.2 f/cm 3 of air as a time-weighted average (TWA) concentra- tion over an 8-h workshift with an action level of 0.1 f/cm 3 as an hour TWA [2,3]. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that asbestos be controlled and handled as a potential human carcinogen in the workplace and that exposure be minimized to the lowest feasible limit. The NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) is 0.1 f/cm 3 as a TWA concentration for up to an 8-h workshift [4]. EPA has also determined limits for the presence of asbestos in internal spaces and in the atmosphere, depending on the quantitative evaluation of danger for human health. Air with asbestos concentrations of 0.01–0.02 f/cm 3 is acceptable fol- 0304-3894/$ – see front matter © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.06.031