Discussion on Possible Approaches for the Management of Pollutants in Tunneling in Rock Formations Containing Asbestos Minerals

Workers’ exposure to asbestos minerals is a major factor in the Occupational Safety and Health risks typical of tunneling. For, as well as being a carcinogen, the distribution of asbestos minerals in rock formations is highly irregular since their possible formation during the metamorphic process depends on various parameters. This makes a special risk assessment and management necessary. Many case studies of specific risk assessment and management of pollutants applied in tunneling are available in literature, so the aim of this research study is to define which can be implemented in case of formations containing asbestos minerals, in combination also with other solutions, and organize them in hierarchical order. Initially, to achieve this goal, a literature review was carried out in accordance with the PRISMA statement, to select the current solutions used to manage possible workers’ exposure to asbestos minerals. Subsequently, the various solutions selected (e.g., specific excavation techniques, catcher systems near the source, ventilation systems etc.) were given a hierarchy by order of priority and compared to each other. The selection of solutions and the priority order were achieved by taking into account the safety requirements for the construction of the base tunnel of the Turin-Lyon railway line. The study highlighted the fact that despite technological progress there are still some critical aspects in the management of pollutants and in particular of asbestos minerals