Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 88-104-2207, Asarco-Troy Unit Mine, Troy, Montana
In response to a request from the United Mine Workers of America, an investigation was made of possible exposures to diesel exhaust, silica (14808607) and noise at the ASARCO Troy Unit Mine (SIC-1044), Troy, Montana. The silver mine was also a significant copper producer. Approximately 314 persons were employed in two basic operations of mining and ore concentration. The ore was mined by the room and pillar method. Extraction calls for drilling, blasting, scaling and roof bolting, mucking and hauling. Exposures to nitrogen-dioxide (10102440) ranged from 0.16 to 4.61 parts per million (ppm) some of which were in excess of the recommended NIOSH limit of 1ppm. Coal-tar-pitch volatiles ranged in concentration from 0.11 to 1.67mg/cu m. Exposure to diesel particulates ranged from 0.22 to 3.99mg/cu m with a mean concentration of 1.60mg/cu m. Respirable dust concentrations ranged from 0.26 to 16.74mg/cu m with a mean of 2.24mg/cu m. The mean quartz content of surface dust samples was 24% and of underground samples was 7%. Noise exposures ranged from 65.5 to 103.8 decibels-A for the 8 hour time weighted average samples. The authors conclude that a health hazard existed due to exposures to respirable silica, noise and diesel combustion products. The authors recommend specific measures to reduce the potential hazardous exposures and enhance the company's medical surveillance program.
- Research Organization:
- National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 7225251
- Report Number(s):
- PB-92-221415/XAB; HETA--88-104-2207
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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540120* -- Environment
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560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ANIMALS
CHALCOGENIDES
COAL TAR
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DIESEL ENGINES
DUSTS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENGINES
EXHAUST GASES
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FLUIDS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HEAT ENGINES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INHALATION
INTAKE
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
MAMMALS
MAN
MINERS
MINES
MONITORING
MONTANA
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
NOISE POLLUTION
NORTH AMERICA
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
RECOMMENDATIONS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
TAR
TOXICITY
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
USA
VERTEBRATES
WASTES