Threats to public health and environment correlated to the exposure to minerals. Suspended urban dusts. Fibrous minerals and asbestos. Crystalline silica. Nanominerals, health, environmental, and global perspectives.
Minerals as resources: examples in solar cell production, nuclear waste disposal and drug delivery.
Philippe Bihouix, Benoit de Guillebon. Quel futur pour le metaux? EDP Sciences, 2010
Learning Objectives
Knowledge of the environmental and health risks during the exposure of mineral dusts. Minerals as resources for a global sustainable development.
Examples will deal with the environmental administration of the territory
Prerequisites
Knowledge acquired in the courses of Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Petrography
Teaching Methods
Contact class with use of blackboard, video-projector for computer, overhead projector.
Laboratory exercises at research facilities
Practical exercises at teaching laboratories
Further information
6 CFU, frequency of lessons is highly recommended, but not mandatory;
Type of Assessment
Oral examination with eventual discussion of a scientific article assigned by the teacher or the draft of a short individual survey
Course program
Introduction to the suspended dusts. Definitions, medical and loyal perspectives. Sampling and analytical procedures. Statistical methods applicable to study suspended dusts (brief introduction).
Exposure to minerals: health risks (1): asbestos and fibrous minerals. Classification of asbestos minerals. Analytical procedures. Interaction with human body.
Exposure to minerals: health risks (2): crystalline silica. Classification of silica group minerals. Analytical procedures. Interaction with human body.
Exposure to minerals: health risks (3): suspended urban dusts. Analytical procedures. Interaction with human body.
Nanominerals. Definition and risks after exposure.
Limits of the georesources.
Social and environmental impact of the georesources. Thermodynamic concepts. The peak of an ore resource. The energy apportionment crisis.
Minerals as resources: technological applications of a mineral. Minerals and energy: the thin film strategy.