Dust exposures at US surface coal mines in 1982-1983

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Arch. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1987.9934362· OSTI ID:5231759

Amandus, H E; Piacitelli, G

Exposures to British Mining Research Establishment corrected respirable dust and respirable quartz at U.S. surface coal mines during 1982-1983 were evaluated from coal mine operator and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) inspector samples. The average respirable quartz concentration from inspector samples ranged from .34-.49 mg/m3 for drilling jobs and .18 mg/m3 for bulldozer operators. For most other surface coal mine jobs, the average respirable quartz concentration was less than .1 mg/m3, and the average respirable dust concentration was less than 2 mg/m3. The results from the analysis of quartz exposures are consistent with epidemiological results for an increased silicosis risk among drillers. It is unclear, however, whether the MSHA samples provide a representative estimate of the average annual quartz concentration for drillers. Results suggest the need for a greater number of quartz samples to be taken on strip coal miners, particularly on drillers and bulldozer operators.

• Research Organization: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5231759
• Journal Information: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 42:6; ISSN AEHLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
016000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Health & Safety
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
COAL
COAL MINERS
COAL MINING
DISEASES
DUSTS
ENERGY SOURCES
EPIDEMIOLOGY
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
MATERIALS
MINERALS
MINERS
MINING
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
QUARTZ
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
RISK ASSESSMENT
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SURFACE MINING