A periodic case study of diesel vehicle drivers exposed to diesel particulate matter in an underground coal mine

Abstract

This study was to measure the exposure of diesel vehicle drivers to elemental carbon (EC) as an indicator of diesel particulate matter (DPM) emitted from diesel vehicles in an underground coal mine over 3 years as per NIOSH Method 5040. Our study results (range 10 μg/m 3-377 μg/m 3 for the loader drivers, 19 μg/m 3-162 μg/m 3 for the SMV drivers) were similar or less than previous study results (range 5 μg/m 3-2,200 μg/m 3) for normal mine operations. From this study results, it appeared that the exposures decreased in the second and the third year. It is thought that the reasons for the decreased personal DPM (EC) exposures over the 3 years were related to the following recommendations; more frequent monitoring and maintenance of the diesel vehicles and their DPM filtration systems, more consistent monitoring of the mine's ventilation system and changes of work practices such as minimizing the opening of diesel vehicle windows. An educational program on adverse health effects of exposure to DPM and use of respiratory protection (P2 respirators) also assisted in minimizing driver exposure to DPM.

Exposure assessment of elemental carbon, ultrafine particles, and crystalline silica at highway toll booths

“…Additionally, the lung deposition particle fraction increases with decreasing diameter of the main mode of a particle size distribution [10]. Therefore, when evaluating exposure to DEP, it is possible to obtain a more in-depth exposure evaluation by analyzing the EC component and the size distribution as well as the number concentration of UFP [10][11][12]. Elemental carbon are thermally stable carbonaceous particles and normally quantified by an evolved gas analysis such as an OCEC Analyzer.…”