Evaluation of the Use of Environmental Surrogates to Estimate Exposure to Diesel Particulate Matter (Total Carbon) in an Underground Metal Mine

Details

• Personal Author:
  Paulsen M ; Sheppard L ; Simpson C ; Spear T ; Stephenson D ; Zamzow E
• Description:
  Elevated exposure to diesel particulate matter (DPM) has been linked to adverse health outcomes including respiratory irritation, cardiovascular disease, immune dysfunction, and lung cancer. Underground miners experience amongst the highest exposures to DPM of any occupation. The goal of this research is to use realtime and time-integrated sampling methods to evaluate the use of environmental surrogates to estimate exposure to DPM-Total Carbon (DPM-TC) in an underground metal mine. Using miners placed into differential exposure categories and results of environmental monitoring, correlations between DPM-TC measurements and realtime measurements of diesel exhaust (including particle mass and count concentrations, NO2, and CO) were determined. The resulting data provides important information related to using other environmental byproducts of diesel exhaust to serve as surrogates to estimate DPM-TC in an underground mining environment. Analyses of results from environmental and personal monitoring suggest a fair correlation between realtime measurements of particle mass concentration and NO2 and measurements of DPM-TC (R2 values of 0.75 and 0.76, respectively). With respect to personal measurements, concentration results of DPM-TC generally followed a miner's low, medium, or high exposure category and ranged from 21ug/m3 to 132ug/m3 with an average of 55ug/m3 (SD = 22ug/m3). Study results suggest there is a fair correlation between realtime measurements of particle mass concentration and NO2 and time integrated measurements of DPM-TC. Personal exposure measurements of DPM-TC were below MSHA compliance thresholds validating the use of appropriate ventilation and diesel powered equipment controls. Large OC fractions in DPM-TC samples need to be further explained and appear to indicate the presence of OC interferences in the ambient air or the use of a B70 diesel fuel blend to power vehicles and ore extraction-related equipment. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomarkers Carcinogens Environmental Exposure Environmental Monitoring Hazardous Substances Mining Occupational Health Particulate Matter Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Vehicle Emissions Workplace

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• Keywords:
  1-Nitropyrene A-industrial Hygiene A-sampling Methods Air Monitoring Air Sampling Author Keywords: A-exposure Factors B-particulate Matter Biological Effects Biological Function Diesel Emissions Diesel Exhausts Exposure Levels Filters Health Effects Health Hazards Metal Mining Methylene Chloride Miners Mining Equipment Mining Industry Monitoring Systems Particle Size Particulates Risk Factors Sampling Underground Miners Underground Mines Underground Mining Work Environment Workers

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• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Idaho ; Montana ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20049778
• Citation:
  25th Annual Conference of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES 2015), October 18-21, 2015, Henderson, Nevada. Herndon, VA: International Society of Exposure Science, 2015 Oct; :192
• CAS Registry Number:
  1-Nitropyrene (CAS RN 5522-43-0) ; Carbon (CAS RN 7440-44-0) ; Dichloromethane (CAS RN 75-09-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Performing Organization:
  University of Washington
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20130901
• Source Full Name:
  25th Annual Conference of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES 2015), October 18-21, 2015, Henderson, Nevada
• End Date:
  20150831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:099c56abd5f8f745f7eb5e19d44f7936191347fe5621c3d39d7420a95771baf1d8c87cfa428921a5cd5f00ce13d1a899fc1c4001a399f2b09559c34d84d81ba1
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/210412/cdc_210412_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 5.06 MB ]