scholarly journals “Nuisance Dust”: Unprotective Limits for Exposure to Coal Mine Dust in the United States, 1934–1969

2013 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Derickson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Coal Mine ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mine Dust

scholarly journals Respirable Coal Mine Dust: A Review of Respiratory Deposition, Regulations and Characterization

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 696
Author(s):  
Younes Shekarian ◽  
Elham Rahimi ◽  
Mohammad Rezaee ◽  
Wei-Chung Su ◽  
Pedram Roghanchi
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Coal Mine ◽  
Lung Diseases ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mine Safety ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Exposure Limits ◽  
Mine Dust ◽  
Particle Characteristics ◽  
Respiratory Deposition

In the late 1990s, despite years of efforts to understand and reduce coal worker’s pneumoconiosis (CWP) prevalence from more than 30% in 1970 to less than 4.2%, the level of occurrence among the US coal miners increased unexpectedly. The recent resurgence of lung diseases has raised concerns in the scientific and regulatory communities. In 2014, the United States Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) issued a new dust rule changing the respirable coal mine dust (RCMD) exposure limits, measurement technology, and sampling protocol. The analysis for probable causes for the substantial increase in the CWP incidence rate is rather complicated. This paper aims to conduct a review of RCMD respiratory deposition, health effects, monitoring, regulations, and particle characteristics. The primary sources of RCMD along with the health risks from potential exposure are highlighted, and the current RCMD exposure regulations of the major coal producer countries are compared. A summary of RCMD characterization studies from 1972 to the present is provided. A review of the literature revealed that numerous factors, including geological and mining parameters, advancements in mining practices, particle characteristics, and monitoring approaches are considered to contribute to the recent resurgence of RCMD lung diseases. However, the root causes of the problem are still unknown. The effectiveness of the new dust rules in the United States will probably take years to be correctly assessed. Therefore, future research is needed to understand the relationship between RCMD particle characteristics and lung deposition, and the efficacy of current monitoring practices to measure the true dose of RCMD exposure.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970

1972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodore F. Schoenborn
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Coal Mine ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
The United States ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Health Programs ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Health Laws ◽  
Mine Health And Safety

It is a pleasure to be here today to speak to you about the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, which is landmark legislation by any measure applied to it. The Act applies to every employer affecting commerce in the United States and its territories which was not covered by other Federal occupational safety and health laws, such as the Metal and Non-metallic Mine Act, the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act and the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. By 1973 a study is to be completed containing recommendations for combining all Federal occupational safety and health programs. Paper published with permission.

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