[Non-occupational dust exposure of the population living in the vicinity of amphibolite mining and processing plant].

Amphibolite bed working in a strip mine, material processing, storage and waste disposal are associated with dust emission to the environment. The aim of our study was to assess non-occupational exposure to dust of people living in a village located about 200 m away from the mine. The fallout dust and the sediment obtained from water samples collected from the stream were found to contain tremolite. Respirable mineral fibers were detected in dust samples collected by filtration of the atmospheric air. Mean 24-h concentrations of the respirable dust at the place of measurements (school) varied considerably, from 11 micrograms/m3 to 20,059 micrograms/m3. The highest dust concentrations were found during the third shift. As fibrous contaminants were detected in many mines of the Lower Silesia region, it is necessary to assess the non-occupational exposure of populations living close to all mines in this area.