Characterization and Toxicity Analysis of Lab-Created Respirable Coal Mine Dust from the Appalachians and Rocky Mountains Regions

Details

• Personal Author:
  Baltrusaitis J ; Camacho A ; Das M ; Fairley N ; Hovingh M ; Jacquez Q ; Medina A ; Rezaee M ; Roghanchi P ; Rubasinghege G ; Salinas V ; Zychowski K
• Description:
  Coal mine workers are continuously exposed to respirable coal mine dust (RCMD) in workplaces, causing severe lung diseases. RCMD characteristics and their relations with dust toxicity need further research to understand the adverse exposure effects to RCMD. The geographic clustering of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) suggests that RCMD in the Appalachian region may exhibit more toxicity than other geographic regions such as the Rocky Mountains. This study investigates the RCMD characteristics and toxicity based on geographic location. Dissolution experiments in simulated lung fluids (SLFs) and in vitro responses were conducted to determine the toxicity level of samples collected from five mines in the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian regions. Dust characteristics were investigated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, the BET method, total microwave digestion, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was conducted to determine the concentration of metals dissolved in the SLFs. Finer particle sizes and higher mineral and elemental contents were found in samples from the Appalachian regions. Si, Al, Fe, Cu, Sr, and Pb were found in dissolution experiments, but no trends were found indicating higher dissolutions in the Appalachian region. In vitro studies indicated a proinflammatory response in epithelial and macrophage cells, suggesting their possible participation in pneumoconiosis and lung diseases development. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Dust Immune System Minerals Occupational Health Safety Toxicology
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: RCMD Coal Dust Coal Mines Dust Analysis Immune Reaction In Vitro Studies In Vitro Toxicity Studies Respirable Dust Respirable Dust Characteristics Simulated Lung Fluids
• ISSN:
  2075-163X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Contract
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New Mexico ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 6 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  12
• Issue:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20067840
• Citation:
  Minerals 2022 Jul; 12(7):898
• Contact Point Address:
  Pedram Roghanchi, Department of Mineral Engineering, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM 87801, USA
• Email:
  pedram.roghanchi@nmt.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• Performing Organization:
  New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20190915
• Source Full Name:
  Minerals
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:43f7562110d6b702391c7807e5a6fbbe7d6fe29df3a9d10dd188667bdc996ec4efd38b5119d5ece0970ea792e0e2f444073b2e3074c7dd2b64820bdba851e694
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230095/cdc_230095_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.87 MB ]