Toxic Hazards of Mining and Smelting

Details

• Personal Author:
  Burgess JL ; Lever PJA ; Schumacher RJ
• Description:
  Reducing worker exposure can be considered most easily during the design of a new smelter. Handling of crushed materials can be automated and contained to prevent spread of dusts. The use of hazardous materials can also be automated to minimize human exposure. Easy access for maintenance can be planned. Less toxic processes, such as using hydrometallurgy rather than pyrometallurgy, can decrease overall exposures. For established smelters, continued safety training and use of protective devices such as respirators can improve worker safety. Industrial hygiene surveys can identify exposure sources and suggest methods of minimizing exposures. Medical monitoring of employees can alert management to any occult problems and prevent the development of debilitating chronic diseases. This may include monitoring for heavy metals and periodic pulmonary function tests. Monitoring devices located near hazardous materials sources can be set to alarm if concentrations exceed set standards. More effective pollution control devices can decrease nearby population exposures. Additional improvements will most likely result from continued changes in smelter design and equipment, as well as from continued strengthening of occupational and environmental standards in association with adequate enforcement. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Dust Environmental Exposure Environmental Pollution Health Care Facilities Workforce And Services Metals Metal Workers Mining Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety Toxicology

  More +
• Keywords:
  Biological Effects Dust Exposure Environmental Pollution Industrial Hygiene Medical Monitoring Mining Industry Occupational Exposure Smelters Smelting
• ISBN:
  9780683080278
• Publisher:
  Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Book
• Place as Subject:
  Arizona ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055090
• Citation:
  Clinical environmental health and toxic exposures, second edition. Sullivan JB Jr, Krieger GR eds. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2001 Jun; :530-538
• Editor(s):
  Sullivan JB Jr; Krieger GR
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2001
• Performing Organization:
  University of Arizona, Tucson
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19950701
• Source Full Name:
  Clinical environmental health and toxic exposures, second edition
• End Date:
  20060630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a4235e3dd3afabf917a9d7896281a71879c41eb4f6798ba27df7421d13b3cecf63eac139096682fbab7ae1b4758a9799bcc7ae22c14b9e1bbb1f0dcf95782bab
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/217461/cdc_217461_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.58 MB ]