  Asbestos is the term for silicate minerals with a typical fibrous structure
and crystallise as separable fibres that can be released into the environment
as a result of natural processes and anthropogenic activities. There is a need
to intensify geo-environmental monitoring of the occurrence of natural asbestos
on a global scale. The study of this material is important to clarify the
impact of asbestos on public health and to have an accurate knowledge of the
requirements for asbestos replacement materials. At present, the technical as
well as the ecological reasons for switching to these fibres are difficult, as
asbestos replacement materials are subject to considerable technological and
economic demands, as well as demands for their biological safety. The aim of
this paper is to summarize the current knowledge regarding the vast issue of
asbestos occurrence, to seek to establish an appropriate methodology for
detecting the presence of asbestos in soil sediments, to identify the exact
types of asbestos from a series of samples, to highlight its impact on public
health, and to emphasize the need for deliberate mapping of the natural
occurrence of asbestos and its inclusion in the laws and decrees of the
Ministry of the Environment. Samples were analysed by electron microscopy and
X-ray diffraction and compared with standards or available literature. The
measurements demonstrated the presence of asbestos in the site sediments and
identified specific types of asbestos. The conclusion of this work is the
confirmation of the presence of asbestos in all samples, including its most
dangerous types, which can cause very serious diseases. In this context, the
mechanism of asbestos-related diseases will be further addressed, which is
linked to the size and shape of the individual fibres, the chemical composition
of the asbestos types and the links between their basic structural units.
