Complexity of Respirable Dust Found in Mining Operations as Characterized by X-Ray Diffraction and FTIR Analysis

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cauda, Emanuele G. ; Chubb L ; Johnston C ; Krebs P ; Mizaikoff B ; Stach R ; Walker RLT
• Description:
  The mineralogical complexity of mine dust complicates exposure monitoring methods for occupational, respirable hazards. Improved understanding of the variability in respirable dust characteristics, e.g., mineral phase occurrence and composition, is required to advance on-site monitoring techniques that can be applied across diverse mining sectors. Principal components analysis (PCA) models were applied separately to XRD and FTIR datasets collected on 130 respirable dust samples from seven mining commodities to explore similarities and differences among the samples. Findings from both PCA models classified limestone, iron, and granite mine samples via their analytical responses. However, the results also cautioned that respirable samples from these commodities may not always fit patterns observed within the model. For example, one unique sample collected in a limestone mine contained no carbonate minerals. Future predictive quantification models should account for unique samples. Differences between gold and copper mine dust samples were difficult to observe. Further investigation suggested that the key to their differentiation by FTIR may lie in the characterization of clays. The results presented in this study provide foundational information for guiding the development of quantification models for respirable mineral hazards in the mining industry. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Dust Minerals Mining Occupational Health Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Direct-on-filter Dusts FTIR Spectroscopy Mineralogy Mining Industry Monitoring Systems PCA Principal Components Analysis Respirable Dust Respirable Mine Dust Respiratory System Disorders Spectroscopes XRD

  More +
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  2075-163X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Indiana ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PMRD - Pittsburgh Mining Research Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  11
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20062432
• Citation:
  Minerals 2021 Apr; 11(4):383
• Contact Point Address:
  Rachel L. T. Walker, Pittsburgh Mining Research Division, Health Hazards Prevention Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15236
• Email:
  oul1@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2021
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Minerals
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e2242d6c294083bc6ba75150e286b7bd9948907ee67fb5c9dd6cf5bb051adac037c331825023fc875a940a68ec4d779f937305c488f4881ddb1f1925683f21bf
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215428/cdc_215428_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 7.49 MB ]