Evaluation of a Wearable Monitor for Measuring Real-Time Diesel Particulate Matter Concentrations in Several Underground Mines

Details

• Personal Author:
  Janisko, Samuel J. ; Noll, James D.
• Description:
  The standard method for determining diesel particulate matter (DPM) exposures in underground metal/nonmetal mines provides the average exposure concentration for an entire working shift, and it can take weeks to obtain results. This approach is problematic because, although it reports that an overexposure has occurred, it fails to provide critical information about cause or prevention. Conversely, real-time measurement would provide miners with timely information to identify the major factors contributing to overexposures and would allow engineering controls to be deployed immediately. Due to these potential benefits, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) developed a wearable instrument that measures real-time elemental carbon (EC) concentrations (EC is a DPM surrogate) via laser extinction. This instrument was later constructed into a commercial version (Airtec). This article evaluates the Airtec's performance in several underground metal/nonmetal mines by comparing it to the standard method for determining DPM exposures (NIOSH method 5040). The instrument was found to meet the NIOSH accuracy criteria and to show no statistical difference from NIOSH method 5040 results. In addition, the instrument's measurements were found to be unaffected by dust and humidity. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Monitoring Metals Mining Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety Vehicle Emissions
• Keywords:
  Analytical-instruments Analytical-methods Author Keywords: Diesel Diesel-emissions Diesel-exhausts Equipment-reliability Exposure-assessment Exposure-levels Exposure-limits Lasers Measurement Measurement-equipment Metal-mining Mining-industry Monitoring-systems Monitors Nonmetal-mining Particulate-sampling-methods Particulates Performance-capability Real-time Underground-mining

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• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  1545-9624
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OMSHR - Office of Mine Safety and Health Research
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  10
• Issue:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20043406
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Hyg 2013 Dec; 10(12):716-722
• Contact Point Address:
  J. D. Noll, US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, 626 Cochrans Mill Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15236
• Email:
  JIN1@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon (CAS RN 7440-44-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2014
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9e4b2ed9b60b1bef437db084309ea4ee43cf3b318e7815c86de9c3c732f2bff47d9cd5f3d619fe1f2142a05b57f03d0788d4bbfddf901e8f729e8c28cb50dac2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/228019/cdc_228019_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 519.79 KB ]