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Mining Publication: Near Real Time Monitoring of Diesel Particulate Matter in Underground Mines
Keywords: Atmospheric monitoring Continuous measurement Diesel exhaust Diesel particulate matter Elemental carbon fraction 
 Underground mining
This page is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.
Original creation date: June 2008
Authors: SJ Janisko, JD Noll
Conference Paper - June 2008
Download PDF Document (0.11 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20034170
Proceedings of the 12th U.S./North American Mine Ventilation Symposium, Reno, Nevada, June 9-11, 2008. Wallace, Jr. KG. ed., Reno, NV: University of Nevada - Reno, 2008; :509-513
Studies have linked long-term inhalation of diesel exhaust with adverse health effects such as cardiovascular disease, cardiopulmonary disease, and lung cancer. Diesel exhaust levels in underground mines can approach 100 times the environmental level and are therefore monitored closely in the mining industry. Elemental carbon (EC) (a product of diesel combustion commonly referred to as "soot") has proven to be a good indicator of diesel exhaust levels. The current procedure for measuring EC levels involves taking personal samples from a mine workers breathing zone and/or stationary samples in various parts of the mine and subsequently sending these samples to a lab for analysis by NIOSH 5040 method. Unfortunately, the whole process can take up to several weeks to complete. To address the problem of waiting weeks for results, NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory is developing a portable device for measuring levels of elemental carbon. This optical device takes a continuous sample of air in the surrounding environment and measures the absorbance of light passing through a filter that collects diesel exhaust particulates within the instrument. This technology can provide a near real time measurement of EC with accuracy within 10% error. The ability to take near real time measurements, combined with the instrument's portability (currently small enough to be worn on the belt of a miner), makes this device extremely useful in the mining industry.
Image of publication Near Real Time Monitoring of Diesel Particulate Matter in Underground MinesConference Paper - June 2008
Download PDF Document (0.11 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20034170
Proceedings of the 12th U.S./North American Mine Ventilation Symposium, Reno, Nevada, June 9-11, 2008. Wallace, Jr. KG. ed., Reno, NV: University of Nevada - Reno, 2008; :509-513
See Also
AQE - Air Quantity Estimator - 2.0.29
A Computer Software Program that Estimates Air Quantity Requirements in Large Opening Stone Mines
DEEP Project on Evaluation of Diesel Particulate Filters at Inco's Stobie Mine
Effects of Diesel Exhaust Aftertreatment Devices on Concentrations and Size Distribution of Aerosols in Underground Mine Air
Evaluation of the SKC� DPM Cassette for Monitoring Diesel Particulate Matter in Coal Mines
Real-time Diesel Particulate Monitor for Underground Mines
Real-Time Estimation of Elemental Carbon Emitted from a Diesel Engine
Technology News 514 - The Air Quantity Estimator (AQE): A New Computer Software Tool for Large-opening Mine Ventilation Planning
Toward developing a new occupational exposure metric approach for characterization of diesel aerosols
Underground Mine Diesel Particulate Monitor Network
Page last reviewed: September 21, 2012
Page last updated: September 21, 2012
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
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