Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
Search
            ×
                        Mining
                        Mining
                            NIOSH
                            All CDC
                    Submit
                For a full list of topics:A-Z Index
                Advanced Search
            Advanced Search


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)





Mining Project: Development of an Aerosol Sampler for a Wearable Respirable Crystalline Silica Monitor
Keywords: Silica dust
This page is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.
Principal Investigator
Teresa Barone -  Request informationStart Date
10/1/2021End Date
9/30/2022Objective
The purpose of this pilot project is to develop an aerosol sampler for a near-real-time wearable respirable crystalline silica (RCS) monitor.
Research Summary

The monitoring capability of a near-real-time wearable respirable crystalline aerosol sampler device will alert miners/mining companies to hazardous RCS concentrations and the need for immediate respiratory protection. This will then be the impetus for the implementation of improved engineering controls and interventions before substantial exposures lead to irreversible lung fibrosis. RCS monitoring for exposure prevention can help stop a progressive massive fibrosis resurgence among miners across the United States and especially in central Appalachia and will ultimately save lives. This project goes hand in hand with the ongoing project, Advancing Exposure Monitoring for Airborne Particulates in Mining, which enabled RCS monitoring in the field.
While the pilot aimed to quantify RCS within minutes, the ongoing project made it possible to quantify RCS levels at the end of the work shift. The goal of both projects was to monitor workers in every mining environment in which the exposure to RCS is a concern. Workers in coal mines (underground and surface mines), in metal mines, and all types of metal/nonmetal operations including aggregates quarries and industrial mineral processing operations will benefit from this new technology. Professionals involved in health and safety and industrial hygiene activities can use the timely data on RCS concentrations to make informed decisions.
A compatible aerosol sampler for an infrared spectrometer was developed as a result of this project. The sampler rapidly amassed respirable dust over the infrared spectrometer detector for RCS quantification every 5 to 10 minutes. Due to the novel sampler design, the monitor can operate in near real time without the need for changing a filter or moving filter position. Another advantage is that diesel particulate matter will pass through the sampler without being collected and will not interfere with RCS detection. The laboratory work on the sampler development began in November 2021. The sampler was evaluated for its compatibility with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), and the sampler and FTIR detected RCS in three minutes.

See Also
Control of Respirable Dust
The Effects of Low Quartz Mass Loading and Spatial Variability on the Quartz Analysis of Surface Coal Mine Dust Samples
Evaluating Portable Infrared Spectrometers for Measuring the Silica Content of Coal Dust
Improving Silica Dust Control Through Targeted Research
NIOSH Hazard Controls 27 - New Shroud Design Controls Silica Dust from Surface Mine and Construction Blast Hole Drills
NIOSH Hazard ID 1 - Exposure to Silica Dust on Continuous Mining Operations Using Flooded-Bed Scrubbers
A Review of Occupational Silica Exposures on Continuous Mining Operations
Silica Dust Sources in Underground Limestone Mines
Silica Dust Sources in Underground Metal/Nonmetal Mines - Two Case Studies
Workplace Solutions: Reducing Hazardous Dust in Enclosed Operator Cabs During Construction
Page last reviewed: May 4, 2023
Page last updated: May 4, 2023
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate Mining
        Site BrowserSafety and Health TopicsData & StatisticsMethodologyMine DisastersMSHA Data FilesMine & Mineworker ChartsTools & PublicationsTools You Can UsePublicationsNews & ArticlesResearch ProgramNORA Mining CouncilStrategic PlanMining Program, 2019-2023Miner Health Program, 2020-2030ProjectsContractsFunding OpportunitiesMining LinksAbout UsContact NIOSH MiningEmploymentFacilitiesHistoryVisitor Information NIOSH Homepage
 NIOSH A-Z
Workplace Safety & Health Topics
Publications and Products
Programs


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue