Scholarly record

DUST PROBLEMS IN OPENCAST COAL MINE

Tomáš Hapla, Pavel Novák, Ladislav Kovář

Abstract

Surface mining method enormously affects the environment in terms of fugitive dust emission than underground mining method. High mechanization in mining operations leads to add heavy load of dust to the surrounding area. Dust not only deteriorates the environmental air quality in and around the mining site but also creates serious health hazards. During coal mining activities, large quantities of coal dust, ashes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals are released into the environment, forming a complex mixture. This mixture becomes one of the most important occupational risks for the health and safety of workers due to its synergistic, additive, and enhancing effects. Coal mine workers run the risk of getting respiratory damage due to high levels of dust and other chemical particulate matters. The inhalation of hazardous substances such as coal micro-particles, nanoparticles, and its by-products constitutes an invisible risk to human health. The paper describes the sources of dust at an open pit mine and the effects of coal dust on workers and people living in the vicinity of the mine. The vast majority of dust from mining activities consists of coarse particles and particles larger than PM10, generated from natural activities such mechanical disturbance of rock and soil materials by dragline or shovel, bulldozing, blasting, and vehicles on dirt roads. Fine particles from vehicle exhausts and mobile equipment are also produced at mine sites, though they only account for about 5 per cent of the particles emitted during the mining process. Generally, it is thought that fine particles below 2.5 ?m in diameter may be of a greater health concern than larger particles as they can reach the air sacs deep in the lungs. However, coarse particles could also be associated with adverse health effects.

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