The Effects of Mining on Human Health Different Sources of Dust Particles

The collapse of underground mines, perhaps due to
heavy rainfall or poor construction, are some of the
most common causes of underground mining accidents.
Air pollution is also a major cause, with high levels of
flammable methane gas and coal dust being the cause of
some of the most serious mining accidents in history.
Underground air pollution can also have a serious effect
on human health, the effects of which can sometimes
take decades to be detected. There are now more high-
tech methods of revealing the different forms of air
pollution present and then to substitute them for another
substance, or even remove them completely. It is still
important that workers are all aware of the different forms
of air pollution in the mine they’re working in from the
time that work begins.
Dust particles can be produced through a range of
activities involved in the extraction of different rock and
mineral products on surface and underground mining
sites. Activities such as excavation, blasting and drilling of
rocks release different forms of dust particles, including:
• Dust containing crystalline silica
• Coal dust
• Asbestos
• Metals, including lead, mercury, and uranium
particles

Forms of Underground Air Pollution

The main causes of air pollution on mining sites are
particulate matter (dust particles) and gases including
radon (RN), methane (CH4) and carbon monoxide (CO).
Underground mining sites that are not well ventilated are
highly risky and respiratory problems such as black lung
disease and silicosis are two of the most severe results
of long-term dust exposure. Lung cancer and tuberculosis
could even be a result of long-term exposure to dust
particles or a toxic gas, such as radon.

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The form and quantity of particles released, depends on the
geology of the rock involved and the different activities that
Effects of Dust Particles on Human Health
are included in the mining process. Over time, the lungs could be badly affected by regular
exposure to mining dust and hazardous gases. If too much
dust is inhaled, the lungs could swell up, leading to breathing
The effects that dust can have on human health, depend on: difficulties. Other effects include:
• The size of dust particles. • Coughing
• The structure of dust particles and their effect on the • Sore throat
body.
• Fever
• The intensity of dust particles, compared to the size of
• Chest pain
the workers breathing zone.
• Nausea
• How often the dust is inhaled over a period of time.
• Tiredness
Black lung disease and silicosis are
Smaller respirable particles may be invisible to the naked eye
two of the most serious respiratory
and able to reach deep down into the lungs. Lung scarring,
problems caused by dust exposure
and fibrosis are some of the effects of respirable quartz
and can even be the cause of
(crystalline silica) dust. Other respirable particles can even be
diseases such as heart disease and
the cause of cancer. Black lung disease and silicosis are two
lung cancer.
of the most dangerous respiratory problems, but luckily new
methods of protection and stricter laws on the intensity of dust
particles are making them less common.

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Black Lung Disease Symptoms include:
Black lung disease, or coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, is • Shortness of breath
the result of inhaling too much coal dust, a highly explosive
• Strong coughing
powdered form of coal particles. Coal dust accumulates in
the lungs until it can’t be removed, giving patients similar • Fever
symptoms to the long term effects of tobacco smoking. This
• Night Sweats
can lead to inflammation, fibrosis and in some cases necrosis
(premature death of cells in living tissue). Early stages of • Weight loss
black lung disease could have no symptoms. Later symptoms
include: • Respiratory failure
• Chest pains

• Chronic coughing
• Shortness of breath Since these symptoms may not be noticed for 15 to 20 years,
it is most important to make sure that workers are not at risk
• Pain breathing from inhaling silica or coal dust. Suffering from black lung
• Increase in mucus (sometimes turning black) disease and silicosis can increase the risk of other miner’s
health problems occurring, such as:
• Coughing up blood
• Chronic bronchitis
• Heart disease
Modern safeguards such as respirators and ventilation
systems are effective methods of prevention, which are also • Lung cancer
commonly used for the prevention of silicosis. • Pneumonia
Silicosis • Asthma
Silica dust is frequently released from soil and rocks being • Sclerosis
grinded or broken up on mining sites. These small particles of
dust can also be inhaled and trapped in the lungs. Silicosis is Other dusts, containing heavy metals can also have serious
also a serious lung disease that could be fatal. effects.

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Mercury Poisoning
The effects of inhaling mercury vapor
can be serious or even fatal. This heavy
metal is found in about 25 organic mineral
compounds present in different mines.
Mercury (Hg) can be inhaled, swallowed, or
even absorbed through the skin. Results of
mercury poisoning include:
• Mouth ulcers
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Headaches
• Cardiac weakness
If workers are exposed to a high level for several years, their
kidneys may be affected, potentially even leading to kidney
failure.
hazardous gases can also be the cause of life-threatening
medical problems like lung cancer, while explosive, highly
flammable gases such as methane, have been the cause of
some of the most serious disasters in mining history.
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Different Range of Mine Gases
Mine gases, also called ‘damps’ (Dampf is the
German word for vapor) refers to the range of
gases involved in mining operations. These
gases include:
Firedamp: highly flammable and explosive gas,
usually methane (CH₄)
Whitedamp or carbon monoxide (CO): Formed
in coal mines, mainly by the oxidation of coal.
Blackdamp: Any atmosphere where a fire lamp
will not burn due to excess carbon dioxide
(CO₂), nitrogen (N₂) and/or low oxygen.
Stink damp or hydrogen sulfide (H₂S): Given this
name because of its’ distinctive smell of rotten
eggs
Afterdamp: Mixture of all gases left in a mine
after an explosion or fire.
The US Mine Safety and Health Administration insists that
gas detection equipment is used in all mines to detect these
common gases. Calculations should also be used to measure
the % Lower Explosive Limit, which these hazardous gases
must be under to prevent the risk of explosion.
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Effects of Unsafe Levels of Mine Gases
Gas detectors are a crucial form of equipment to use in
underground mining sites and methane is one of the most
important to measure.
Disastrous Effects of Unsafe Methane Levels
In 2015, it was calculated that Methane
(CH₄) makes up approximately 10% of all
greenhouse gases in the US. Over a 100-
year period, its’ impact on trapping radiation
has been 25 times greater than CO₂. Along
with coal dust, it is the most common cause of coal mine
explosions and is more readily ignitable. These explosions are
usually caused by former methane explosions that force the
dust up into the air. When the dust is ignited, flames are more
likely to spread over a long distance.
A high methane level lifting explosive coal dust into the air,
resulted in some of the largest coal mine accidents in history.
Including:
1906: 1,099 killed in the Courrières mine disaster in North
France
1913: 439 killed in a mine disaster at Senghenydd in South
Wales.
1942: 1549 killed in a mine in Benxihu Colliery, China.
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Ventilation fans are also used to dilute gases under their
explosive level. It is a legal requirement that mining sites are
monitored for a dangerous level of methane concentration
in the air. Levels must be under the
explosive range of 5%. According to
the National Institute for Occupational
Health and Safety (NIOSH), targets
should be set to reach below 1%.
Fire and explosion are two of the main
risks of gas exposure but, human health
can also be affected.
Effects of Radon on Human Health
Radon is an odorless, radioactive gas involved in uranium,
coal, silver, and other forms of underground mining. The
concentration of radon in mines varies a lot, but it is especially
common when uranium, found in rocks such as granite and
limestone, is broken down to produce radium sediments.
Sediments can then decay into this radioactive gas. If
the gas is allowed to build up it begins to decay, forming
solid particles which can then enter the lungs, unable to
escape. This is the main source of radiation in most forms of
underground mining and lung cancer can be a serious result.
The results of exposure to many of these gases and dust
particles, indicates the importance of protection for mining
workers. Luckily, many of these medical problems can be
prevented through better ventilation systems, personal
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protective equipment (PPE), or even the elimination of these
particles altogether.
Removal or Alteration of Unsafe Substances
The most effective way of preventing miner’s health problems
caused by substance exposure is to remove them from a
mining site. Changing these particles for a safer equivalent is
another effective method, but workers may need to receive
the proper mine safety training to notice any of the effects
of exposure, and provided with efficient Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) for protection to be certain.
Removing Particles Altogether
If there is a way that these dust particles or hazardous gases
can be easily removed, this is the best method of preventing
exposure. It is most effective way to treat the dust from its
point of release.
Rules published by The Mine Safety and Health Administration
(MSHA) state that controls such as dry dust collectors must
be used when miners are drilling rock. This was aimed to
protect surface miners working with, or around highwall drills,
who were exposed to dangerous amounts of crystalline silica.
Silicosis result from overexposure to these particles.
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Alternative Safer Substance
If there is a safer alternative for any of the dust particles or
gases used, this is also recommended. For example, scientists
in Northwestern University discovered cornstarch as being an
environmentally friendly alternative to the highly poisonous
cyanide. This was used by almost every gold mining site to
separate gold from other raw materials.
“The elimination of cyanide from the gold industry is of the
utmost importance environmentally. We have replaced nasty
reagents with a cheap, biologically friendly material derived
from starch.” (Sir Fraser Stoddart, the Board of Trustees
Professor of Chemistry in the Weinberg College of Arts and
Sciences).
Turning powders into pellets is a good method of preventing
particles from being released into the atmosphere. Xanthate
is used as a flotation substance in the mining industry to
separate metal sulfides such as lead, copper, and zinc. It is
usually sent to mining sites in the form of pellets instead of
powder.
Important Equipment and Safety Features
It is important for any equipment involved to be suitable
and remain well-maintained for the job. For example, cutting
blades, used to remove minerals from the rock body, should
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stay sharp and strong enough to easily cut into the rock
without too much dust being released. Water sprays are
a simple method of suppressing any dust. Ventilation and
air filtration for any respirable particles and gases are also
effective but must be well produced and appropriate for the
structure of the underground mining site.
Ventilation System
A reliable ventilation system is one of the most
important safety features of underground mining.
Insufficient ventilation can result in unsafe exposure to
toxic gases and dust particles under a high temperature.
High underground temperature can also the result of
other causes including confined spaces, virgin rock
temperature, machinery, physical labor, and rock
blasting.
Sufficient ventilation systems can be used
to collect a moving stream of air from the
ground level, passing it along to the different
parts of the underground mine. Each working area
should continue to receive a fresh, cool air supply. In
the
result of an emergency, some of these ventilation systems can
even be modified and used as escape routes.
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This is the most effective method of dust and gas control but
probably the most difficult to implement. For example, the air
velocity must remain high, usually at a rate of 60 to 150 ft/min.
There are other forms of equipment such as shrouded power
tools that retain smaller amounts of these substances, as well
as methods of checking that these gases and particles are not
present.
Safety Lamps
Safety lamps are a less expensive way of checking a working
area to make sure that hazards of coal mining such as
coal dust or flammable gases are absent. They are
used to illuminate underground coal mines where
any dangerous substances could be found. These
sealed electronic lamps prevent the ignition of
gases or dust which is a hazard when open-
flame lamps are used. They are now usually
attached to miner’s helmets. These flames
could change color, perhaps forming a blue
tinge if an unsafe level of methane is detected. Workers
should be taught to use any equipment such as power
tools that are created for work in this kind of environment.
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If jobs can be altered so that work takes place in a safe
uncontaminated area, this is the best choice for permanent
safety.
Maintaining the Permanent Safety of Workers
Workers should always receive mine safety training to work in
this environment, as well as be provided with the correct PPE
and safety equipment for the job. They should still not remain
in an underground site for longer than the recommended time
and the best solution would be if their work could be moved
to a safer, uncontaminated area.
Separation from the Substance
Ventilation systems are a way of protecting workers with a
constant supply of fresh air. Moving workers a safe distance
away is the most effective way of protecting them from the
substance altogether.
For example, if rock-breakers are under radio remote control,
miners may not even have to travel underground. ABB, a
Swedish-Swiss global leader in power and automation
technology, supplies Bolide’s Garpenberg Mine in Sweden
with remote controlled rock-breakers. This project is supplied
with two ABB remote control stations with remote control
desks and safety controllers. They are provided with a real-
time video system to view the constant work being done and
a 3D simulator to teach workers how to use rock breakers.
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Underground barriers could also be constructed to shield
workers from these substances, but they should still be
aware of what they are being protected against and how to
recognize it, perhaps based on smells or bodily symptoms.
Workers Training
All workers must be aware of and recieved mine safety
training to prevent the hazards of coal mining involved in
tasks where they are exposed to air pollution. Watering
is an inexpensive method of holding down dust particles
and can be easily taught to workers. This is used in 81%
of underground mines in Australia and workers should be
instructed to do this before any holes are drilled, preventing
particles such as coal dust from rising-up into the air.
High-pressure spraying systems can also contain added
chemicals to improve the performance of the spray. For
example, D-Dust is a surfactant product aimed to grip coal
particles which are a hydrophobic material, repelling water.
Surfactants are compounds used to reduce the surface
tension of liquids causing them to spread out instead of
forming droplets. This allows the water to absorb these coal
particles more effectively.
Workers should be trained to work safely in these conditions,
but not be sent to work in mines for longer than they must be.
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Exposure in Moderation
It is important that workers are replaced after a certain amount
of time, if other workers with similar skills are present. If no
one else is available frequent rest periods are necessary
to reduce exposure to these conditions. The legal limit of
coal dust exposure is set at 2.4mg over an 8-hour period.
However, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) has set the recommended limit for at 1mg over
8-hours.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
Before sufficient PPE is chosen, it is important that the other
methods of protection have been investigated and any
possible changes made, such as changing certain substances
for a safer alternative. Suitable respiratory equipment is
the most effective form of protection and must be provided
to shield workers from any gas or hazards of coal mining
that could lead to respiratory problems, such as black lung
disease.
When using a respirator for the job:
Other important forms of PPE include:
• Hard hats, with a light source for subsurface miners
• Safety glasses, with anti-fog properties. Sealed to
prevent the entrance of dust and sand.
• Ear plugs
• Half or full-face masks
• Protective Conti Suits with reflective stripes
• Hand protection
• Heavy duty, anti-slip boots
Miner’s health problems are most likely to form over time,
after years of working in a gas filled or dust ridden, sometimes
enclosed space. It is important that all these forms of worker
protection are enforced from the time that work begins. They
should also be aware of their own right to efficient PPE for
the job involved and aware of any dangerous substances that
they could be exposed to.

• Choose the right kind for the right job, for the relevant
gases, dust etc.
• Keep it clean.
• Don’t share with other workers.
• Make sure it’s a good fit, which facial hair can hamper.

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Conclusion
The natural environment can also be affected, especially
the water system, soil, vegetation, and wildlife in the local
area.If a dangerous form of underground air pollution
cannot be successfully removed or substituted, there
are new forms of equipment or safety features that can
protect workers on the job. New laws also insist that they
are provided with all the relevant PPE in an environment
that must be tested for safe levels of any toxic gases or
dust particles. Air contamination is still only one form of
pollution in the mining industry.

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 A contractor orientation system built for the guys on the ground

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