Asbestiform fibers in the Biancavilla site of national interest (Sicily, Italy): review of environmental data via GIS platforms

After the observation of cases of malignant pleural neoplasm in Biancavilla (Catania, Italy), a new asbestiform fiber, named fluoro-edenite (NaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22F2), was found in a stone quarry use for local building industry and in the lung tissue of an 86 years old woman who died from pleural mesothelioma. As a consequence the Italian Ministry of the Environment has included the Biancavilla site in the National Priority List. In this study, a point of view on the results from a large scale environmental monitoring program conducted for the implementation of the site investigation is presented. The obtained dataset from the environmental monitoring program results in more than 3,000 values of concentration of asbestos like fibers and fluoro-edenite fibers in air, water and top soil. These data are spatially and temporally distributed in the Biancavilla site, therefore the development and application of a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was very useful to review, manage and analyze the obtained data and to give direction to the stakeholders in order to define the required remediation activities. A WebGIS was also developed to provide a rapid GIS access and data management by various control bodies.