Table 2 Physico-chemical characteristics of engineered stone (ES1-5) and natural stone (NS) dusts. The crystalline silica content was measured by quantitative XRD. The other phases were qualitatively assessed by Raman spectroscopy. The specific surface area was measured by the BET method and weight loss after heating was measured by TGA.

From: Physico-chemical features and membranolytic activity of dust from low or no crystalline silica engineered stone with implications for toxicological assessment

Stone sample

Mineral phases (%)

Specific surface area (m2/g)

Weight loss after heating (%)

Crystalline silica (quartz + cristobalite)

Other phases*

High-SiO2 ES1

76 (53 + 23)

Rutile, GC

1.16

10.8

Low-SiO2 ES2

23 (23 + n.d.)

VP, GC, rutile

1.52

12.4

Low-SiO2 ES3

7.0 (4.5 + 2.5)

Albite, rutile, GC, VP, muscovite

0.79

12.1

No-SiO2 ES4

0.0 (n.d. + n.d.)

Gibbsite, GC

6.02

46.0

No-SiO2 ES5

0.0 (n.d. + n.d.)

Gibbsite, GC

6.56

46.0

NS

81 (81 + n.d.)

VP, GC

2.60

Not applicable†

  1. *In decreasing order of quantity;.
  2. ‘n.d.’, not detected (below analytical limits);.
  3. ‘GC’: glassy carbon; ‘VP’: vitreous phase;.
  4. †Not applicable to natural stone, which does not contain resin.
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