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 Publication: Evaluating the Use of a Field-based Silica Monitoring Approach with Dust from Copper Mines
Keywords: Dust measurement instruments FTIR Respirable dust Silica dust
Original creation date: October 2018
Authors: E Cauda, L Chubb, R Reed, R Stepp
Peer Reviewed Journal Article - January 2019
Go to Web Page
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20051897
J Occup Environ Hyg 2018 Oct; 15(10):732-742
Monitoring worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica in dusty environments is an important part of a proactive health and safety program. This is the case for surface copper mines in Arizona and New Mexico. The spatial and temporal variability of respirable dust and crystalline silica concentrations in those mines, coupled with the time lapse in obtaining crystalline silica analysis results from accredited laboratories, present a challenge for an effective exposure monitoring approach and the resulting intervention strategies. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is developing a novel approach to be used at a mine site for the quantification of crystalline silica in respirable dust samples collected with traditional sampling techniques. The non-destructive analysis is carried out using a portable Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) unit. In this study, respirable dust samples were collected over two visits to each of five copper mines, for a total of 10 data-sets. The silica in each respirable dust sample was estimated by analyzing the sample with the portable FTIR unit. The quality of the estimation was assessed using the results of the NIOSH 7500 method on the same samples. The confounding effect of other minerals present in the respirable dust in the mines was also assessed, and two quantification approaches were investigated to address it: a *sector-specific* and a *mine-specific* approach. The results showed that the sector-specific approach is not effective due to the high variability of relative composition of the minerals among mines. For this approach the combined average relative difference was −13% (−17.6%,−8.9% CI). When using the mine-specific quantification approach, the average relative difference was as low as 2.8% (−3.7%, 9.3% CI); however, this approach was still affected by the variable relative composition of the minerals in the dust in each mine. The use of a multivariate approach on the analysis of each sample was proposed as the next step to achieve consistent low relative differences. This study demonstrates the potential of using a portable FTIR for estimation of crystalline silica in respirable dust samples for in-field exposure monitoring.
First page of Evaluating the Use of a Field-based Silica Monitoring Approach with Dust from Copper MinesPeer Reviewed Journal Article - January 2019
Go to Web Page
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20051897
J Occup Environ Hyg 2018 Oct; 15(10):732-742
See Also
A Comparison of Respirable Crystalline Silica Concentration Measurements Using a Direct-on-filter Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Transmission Method vs. a Traditional Laboratory X-ray Diffraction Method
Direct-on-Filter alpha-Quartz Estimation in Respirable Coal Mine Dust using Transmission Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry and Partial Least Squares Regression
Direct-on-filter Analysis for Respirable Crystalline Silica Using a Portable FTIR Instrument
Evaluating Portable Infrared Spectrometers for Measuring the Silica Content of Coal Dust
Improving Silica Dust Control Through Targeted Research
Laboratory Comparison of New High Flow Rate Respirable Size-Selective Sampler
Reducing Silica and other Respirable Hazards in the Industrial Minerals and Metal/Nonmetal Mining Industries
Respirable Size-Selective Sampler for End-of-Shift Quartz Measurement: Development and Performance
Selected Publications on EVADE Software, Helmet-CAM, Dust Exposure, and Behavioral Studies
Technology News 463 - Machine-Mounted Continuous Respirable Dust Monitor
Page last reviewed: January 16, 2019
Page last updated: January 16, 2019
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