IJEP 41(8): 900-905 : Vol. 41 Issue. 8 (August 2021)
National Institute of Miners Health (NIMH), Department of Occupational Hygiene, JNARDDC Campus, Wadi Nagpur – 440 023, Maharashtra, India
Abstract
Respirable dust is harmful to human beings and can cause silicosis, bronchitis, respiratory problems especially miners all over the world depending upon their concentration, percentage of crystalline silica, nature of the respirable dust and exposure time. The objective of the paper is to assess the exposure of dust and crystalline silica generated during the opencast limestone mine as per the Director General Mining Safety (DGMS). Sidekick 51 MTX gravimetric dust sampler (GDS), UK, approved by Director General of Mines Safety (DGMS), was utilised for personal dust exposure assessment of limestone miners. The presence of crystalline silica was determined by FTIR using Opus software and followed the NIOSH-7602 methodology. A total of 54 airborne respirable dust samples (29 personal dust and 25 area dust samples) were collected from May 2016 to May 2018. It was observed that 8 hr time weighted average (TWA) concentration of airborne respirable dust at all sampled locations of opencast limestone mines were within the permissible limit (that is 3 mg/m3) as prescribed under Regulation 124 of Metalliferous Mines Regulation 1961. 31 dust samples analyzed for crystalline silica (SiO2) content were below 5% except for one sample near the hopper area was below the permissible limit.
Keywords
Respirable dust, Crystalline silica, Limestone, Mine regulation
References
- Lewis, C.J. and B.B. Crocker. 1969. The lime industry’s problem of airborne dust. J. Air Poll. Cont. Assoc., 19(1): 31-39.
- Anonymous. 2017. 7-8% contribution of mining sector in GDP can create 25 million jobs in India. 2017. The Asian Age. Retrieved on 27-02-2018. Available at http://www.asianage.com/business/economy/091117/7-8-per-cent-contribution-of-mining-sector-in-gdp-can-create-25-million-jobs-in-india.html.
- Thamminidi, Manjunath. 2016. Mica, limestone and other non-metallic minerals in India. In Environment. PMF IAS team. Available at https://www.pmfias. com/non-metallic-mineral-distribution-in-india-mica-limestone-dolomite-asbestos-kyanite-gypsum/.
- Gallagher, L.G., R.M. Park and H. Checkoway. 2015. Extended follow-up of lung cancer and non-malignant respiratory disease mortality among California diatomaceous earth workers. Occup. Env. Med., 72: 360-365.
- Ghose, M.K. and S.R. Majee. 2000. Assessment of dust generation due to opencast coal mining – An Indian case study. Env. Monit. Assess., 61: 255-263.
- Ashit, K.M., et al. 2005. Assessment of respirable dust and its free silica content in different Indian coalmines. Ind. Health. 43: 277-284.
- Shobha, K. 2011. Determination of quartz and its abundance in respirable airborne dust in both coal and metal mines in India. Procedia Eng., 26: 1810-1819.
- The Japan Society for Occupational Health. 2018. Recommends the occupational exposure limits (2018-2019). J. Occup. Health. 60: 419-452.
- SWA. 2013d. How to determine what is reasonably practicable to meet a health and safety duty. Safe Work Australia.
- Emilia, R., et al. 2014. Characterization and evaluation of dust on building construction sites in Brazil. Occup. Health Safety J., 5: 1-8.
- Steenland, K. and W. Sanderson. 2001. Lung cancer among industrial sand workers exposed to crystalline silica. American J. Epidemiol., 153: 695-703.
- Steenland, K., W. Sanderson and G.M. Calvert. 2001. Kidney disease and arthritis in a cohort study of workers exposed to silica. Epidemiol., 12(4): 405-412.
- McDonald, J.C., et al. 2005. Mortality from lung and kidney disease in a cohort of North American industrial sand workers: An update. Annals Occup. Hyg., 49(5): 367-373.
- Steenland, K. 2005. One agent, many diseases: Exposure-response data and comparative risks of different outcomes following silica exposure. American J. Ind. Med., 48: 16-23.
