Dust Generation and Respiratory Impact of Underground Coal-Producing mines in Pakistan

Abstract

Coal is a major source of energy in developing countries. Its underground mining exposes workers to respirable dust containing silica, causing respiratory illness. The objectives of this study include measuring this dust and the percentage of its silica content and evaluating the prevalence of respiratory diseases among coal cutters. A walkthrough survey performa, SKC Airchek 52 (SKC Inc., eighty four, PA, USA) air sampling pumps, an anemometer, hygrometer, multi-gas detector, a thermometer and modified International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD) respiratory questionnaire were used to collect data from 64 workers working in 5 different mines of Chakwal District in Punjab, Pakistan. Mine E, with the lowest ventilation volumetric flow rate (18m 3 /s), has the highest dust concentration (6.10 mg/m 3 , silica content 2.699%). Conversely, mine A, with the highest ventilation volumetric flow rate (45 m 3 /s), has the lowest dust concentration (2.58 mg/m 3 , 1.33 % silica content). Survey results show that 71% of workers inherited this occupation, 94% did not smoke, 99% did not use any dust mask, 47% have diagnosed tuberculosis and 8% asthma. About 57, 48, 44 and 42 workers reported cough, phlegm, chest tightness and shortness of breath, respectively. The 89% workers were told by their physicians that dust exposure was the reason for their respiratory ailment.

Workplace induced heat-related-illness and kidney disorders amongst coal cutters of underground mines

“…Narrow coal seams and long wings of old mines make the work environment suffocating with low ventilation levels. 8 Excessive sweating in such an environment could trigger many diseases of the digestive system, skin and functioning of kidneys (leading to chronic kidney disorder (CKD)) in coal cutters. To ensure thermal comfort for the workers, an optimal level of airflow is required in indoor workplaces.…”

Application of Electrical Resistivity Tomography for the Assessment of Sinkhole Hazard to Improve Public Health and Safety Conditions on Post-Mining Lands

“…Soil is a critical component of the environment and represents the resource most impacted by the subsidence. Surface collapse for example, represents a catastrophic change in soil environment from which an area may not recover on a given time scale, [6].…”

Investigation of Water Spraying Distribution by Multi-points Characterization System in Simulation Tunnel

“…High dust hazard produced in coal mining process not only can threaten miners' health and influence working efficiency, especially the respiratory dust, but also cause dust explosion [1][2][3][4]. By 2016, 27992 cases of occupational pneumoconiosis from 31789 cases of occupational disease have been reported and 95.49% of which are from coal miners [5].…”

“…sˋ mm -concave pool area of the sample piece sʺ μm -image area from metallographic microscope ρ kg/m 2 -fluid density v m/s -fluid velocityP kg/m 2 -fluid pressure t s -time S kg/m 3 •s -source item τ N/m -shear force F N/m 3 -body force c p w•s/kg•K -constant pressure specific heat λ W/m•K -heat conductivity coefficient n pcs -number of particles Q r w•s/m 3 -radiant heat J pK N/m3 -component force of the K -term particle diffusion flow F gpK N/m 3 -resultant force of the particle on the fluid phase…”