Major G, Vardy G F
C.M. Consultants Pty Limited, Wahroonga, NSW, Australia.
IARC Sci Publ. 1989(90):497-508.
A public authority building a breakwater and other harbour facilities at a small seaport (population 3000) had short-term requirements for 261,000 tonnes of rock and ultimately for 1,000,000 tonnes. A suitable quarry was found about 11 km from the port but unfortunately the rock was found to be contaminated to a small extent with a fibrous mineral identified with the analytical transmission electron microscope as a non-commercial type of fine amphibole with many long fibres. Quarrying only was intended and there were no plans to crush the rock, but the projected work soon brought complaints from local residents, who expressed fears concerning risks to health from what soon became known as 'the asbestos mine'. These complaints posed a dilemma for both the construction and health authorities; they were forcefully expressed, and residents were supported by local newspapers, municipal authorities and regional politicians. The Land and Environment Court ordered (by consent) that the construction authority 'take all reasonable measures to ensure that no loose asbestos material and no rock with any asbestos material exposed on the surface (is) removed from the site'. Personal monitoring of quarry workmen by the membrane filter method and ambient air monitoring near residents' homes with analysis by electron microscope showed that only insignificant concentrations of airborne fibres were present. The breakwater was ultimately completed after much delay and extra expense. Other and greater risks to health and safety, such as the transport of liquid chlorine through the centre of the town to the fish processing plant and the storage, distribution and transport of petroleum products from the nearby regional facilities, were not perceived as such by the residents.
一个公共机构正在一个小海港（人口3000）建造防波堤和其他港口设施，短期内需要26.1万吨岩石，最终需要100万吨。在距离港口约11公里处发现了一个合适的采石场，但不幸的是，经分析透射电子显微镜鉴定，岩石被一种纤维状矿物轻度污染，这种矿物是一种非商业类型的细闪石，有许多长纤维。只打算进行采石作业，没有破碎岩石的计划，但预计的工程很快就引起了当地居民的投诉，他们对这个很快就被称为“石棉矿”的地方可能对健康造成的风险表示担忧。这些投诉给建设当局和卫生当局都带来了两难境地；投诉表达得很强烈，当地居民得到了当地报纸、市政当局和地区政客的支持。土地与环境法院（经同意）下令建设当局“采取一切合理措施，确保现场不清除任何松散的石棉材料以及任何表面暴露有石棉材料的岩石”。通过膜过滤法对采石工人进行个人监测，并在居民家附近进行环境空气监测，经电子显微镜分析表明，空气中纤维的浓度微不足道。经过长时间的拖延和额外的费用，防波堤最终建成。其他更大的健康和安全风险，如液态氯通过镇中心运往鱼类加工厂，以及附近地区设施的石油产品的储存、配送和运输，居民们却并未如此认为。
