Clean technologies for soapstone handicraft in a rural area of Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil

The soapstone handicraft production in Mata dos Palmitos is a family business, mainly women-headed families. It is performed in unhealthy and risk work environment, although represents an opportunity to improve financial income to subsistence. The main objective of this work is to develop social clean technologies to reduce asbestos potential contaminated dusts and others health risks factors (accidents, noises, vibrations, etc) that will contribute to minimize the environmental impacts and improve the health and work conditions of the “Mata dos Palmitos” community. It was investigated the technologies available in the market, suitable human protection equipments and proper individual protection equipments. In this context, the air particulates emission and its size (<10m; <4.5m and <2.5m) of distinct production process steps were assessed. Results showed that the automatic saw produces quantitatively total particulate matter ten times more than others equipments...