Particulate matter (PM_2.5) samples were collected in the vicinity of an industrial chemical pole and analysed for organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC), 47 trace elements and around 150 organic constituents. On average, OC and EC accounted for 25.2% and 11.4% of the PM_2.5 mass, respectively. Organic compounds comprised polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alkylated PAHs, anhydrosugars, phenolics, aromatic ketones, glycerol derivatives, aliphatic alcohols, sterols, and carboxyl groups, including aromatic, carboxylic and dicarboxylic acids. Enrichment factors > 100 were obtained for Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, Sn, B, Se, Bi, Sb and Mo, showing the contribution of industrial emissions and nearby major roads. Principal component analysis revealed that vehicle, industrial and biomass burning emissions accounted for 66%, 11% and 9%, respectively, of the total PM_2.5-bound PAHs. Some of the detected organic constituents are likely associated with plasticiser ingredients and thermal stabilisers used in the manufacture of PVC and other plastics in the industrial complex. Photooxidation products of both anthropogenic (e.g., toluene) and biogenic (e.g., isoprene and pinenes) precursors were also observed. It was estimated that biomass burning accounted for 13.8% of the PM_2.5 concentrations and that secondary OC represented 37.6% of the total OC. The lifetime cancer risk from inhalation exposure to PM_2.5-bound PAHs was found to be negligible, but it exceeded the threshold of 10^-6 for metal(loi)s, mainly due to Cr and As.

Road dust resuspension, especially the particulate matter fraction below 10 µm (PM₁₀), is one of the main air quality management challenges in Europe. Road dust samples were collected from representative streets (suburban and urban) of the city of Viana do Castelo, Portugal. PM₁₀ emission factors (mg veh⁻¹ km⁻¹) ranging from 49 (asphalt) to 330 (cobble stone) were estimated by means of the United Stated Environmental Protection Agency method. Two road dust fractions (<0.074 mm and from 0.0074 to 1 mm) were characterised for their geochemical, mineralogical and morphological properties. In urban streets, road dusts reveal the contribution from traffic emissions, with higher concentrations of, for example, Cu, Zn and Pb. In the suburban area, agriculture practices likely contributed to As concentrations of 180 mg kg⁻¹ in the finest road dust fraction. Samples are primarily composed of quartz, but also of muscovite, albite, kaolinite, microcline, Fe-enstatite, graphite and amorphous content. Particle morphology clearly shows the link with natural and traffic related materials, with well-formed minerals and irregular aggregates. The hazard quotient suggests a probability to induce non-carcinogenic adverse health effects in children by ingestion of Zr. Arsenic in the suburban street represents a human health risk of 1.58 × 10⁻⁴.

The use of asbestos, once celebrated for its versatility and fire-resistant properties, has left a lasting legacy of environmental degradation and public health risks. This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the environmental impacts and health risks associated with asbestos, highlighting its widespread use, environmental persistence, and adverse effects on human health. Through a literature review, this study examines the historical context of asbestos use, its adverse environmental effects and the mechanisms by which exposure to asbestos poses significant health risks, including the development of asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, etc. It also assesses the current regulatory framework and provides a methodological analysis of the strategy for recycling end-of-life materials containing asbestos fibers, proposing the inclusion of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in the rock wool industry to reduce Greenhouse Gasses (GHG) emissions. Drawing on interdisciplinary insights from environmental science, public health, and regulatory analysis, this paper concludes with recommendations for improving asbestos management strategies, promoting safer alternatives and mitigating the long-term environmental and human health impacts of asbestos.

The circular economy emphasizes reducing, recycling, and reusing waste, a principle that is challenging to apply to hazardous materials like asbestos-containing construction waste, typically destined for landfills due to limited recycling options. This experimental study investigates the physicochemical characterization of asbestos fibers in fiber cement boards and assesses the efficacy of mechanical grinding and thermal treatments to transform these fibers into non-fibrous, stable phases for reuse in sustainable construction applications, such as cement and mineral wool production. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), we analyzed samples from end-of-life fiber cement panels, subjecting them to thermal treatments at 700 °C, 1000 °C, and 1200 °C. Results show that, while grinding reduces particle size, it does not eliminate fibrous structures; however, thermal treatment above 1000 °C fully converts chrysotile into forsterite and enstatite, eliminating health risks and enabling material reuse. These findings, that are part of the FiberRec project, support a systematic approach to integrating asbestos-containing waste into a closed-loop material cycle, significantly reducing carbon emissions and landfill dependency.