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PubMed1994

Extended workdays in an underground mine: a work performance analysis.

Many companies in different industrial sectors are exploring alternative work schedules to deal with diverse problems associated with shiftwork. The use of extended workday schedules (regular shift lengths exceeding 8 h with compressed workweeks) is attracting growing interest in many industries that use continuous operations. To address concerns regarding possible fatigue effects on safety and work performance associated with such schedules, the U.S. Bureau of Mines conducted a two-phase study at an underground metal mine in western Canada. Data were collected before and after a group of workers employed at the mine changed from an 8- to a 12-h schedule. Results indicate nearly unanimous acceptance and improved sleep quality associated with the new schedule. In general, fatigue-sensitive behavioral and physiological performance measures show either no change or improvement with 12-h shifts. We conclude that the extended workday schedule should be retained but periodically reevaluated.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Leaching of heavy metals in acid mine drainage.

Acid mine drainage is one of the most serious environmental problems that the coal and metal mining industry is currently facing. The generation of low pH drainage enhances the dissolution of heavy metals in water. The samples used in this research originated from three pits at mine dumps. In a study reported in this paper, three types of tests; namely static test, kinetic test and column test were conducted to estimate acid generation and acid neutralization reaction rates, and to predict the solubility of metals and their release rates. Static test showed that all samples had a pH of net acid generation (NAG pH) <4, a net acid producing potential (NAPP) >10 kg H2SO4tonne(-1), and a S-content >3%, which can be classified as a high acid-forming capacity. Simulated runoff in the column tests was equivalent to 5-year average rainfall in Indonesia, the resultant leachates showed acidic behaviour (pH < 3.5). Based on the results, it was found that high mobilization of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) takes place under strong acidic conditions (pH approximately equal 2).

Hydrogen-Ion Concentration↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Identifying antecedent conditions responsible for the high rate of mining injuries in Zambia.

The incident rates of mining-related accidents and injuries in developing countries exceed those of developed nations. Interventions by international organizations routinely fail to produce appreciable long-term improvement. One major reason is the inability to identify and analyze the underlying factors responsible for creating unsafe working conditions. Understanding these antecedent conditions is necessary to formulate effective intervention strategies and prioritize the use of limited resources. This study utilized a logic model approach to determine the root causes and broad categories of potential interventions for mining accidents and injuries in Zambia. Results showed that policy interventions have the greatest potential for substantive change. A process of educating officials from government and mining companies about the economic and social merits of health and safety programs and extensive changes in regulatory structure and enforcement are needed.

Logistic Models↗
PubMed1995

Biomarker monitoring of a population residing near uranium mining activities.

We investigated whether residents residing near uranium mining operations (target population), who are potentially exposed to toxicants from mining waste, have increased genotoxic effects compared with people residing elsewhere (reference population). Population surveys were conducted, and 24 target and 24 reference residents were selected. The selected subjects and controls were matched on age and gender and they were nonsmokers. Blood samples were collected for laboratory studies. The standard cytogenetic assay was used to determine chromosome aberration frequencies, and the challenge assay was used to investigate DNA repair responses. We found that individuals who resided near uranium mining operations had a higher mean frequency of cells with chromosome aberrations and higher deletion frequency but lower dicentric frequency than the reference group, although the difference was not statistically significant. After cells were challenged by exposure to gamma-rays, the target population had a significantly higher frequency of cells with chromosome aberrations and deletion frequency than the reference group. The latter observation is indicative of abnormal DNA repair response in the target population.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1999

Radionuclides in the lichen-caribou-human food chain near uranium mining operations in northern Saskatchewan, Canada.

The richest uranium ore bodies ever discovered (Cigar Lake and McArthur River) are presently under development in northeastern Saskatchewan. This subarctic region is also home to several operating uranium mines and aboriginal communities, partly dependent upon caribou for subsistence. Because of concerns over mining impacts and the efficient transfer of airborne radionuclides through the lichen-caribou-human food chain, radionuclides were analyzed in tissues from 18 barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus). Radionuclides included uranium (U), radium (226Ra), lead (210Pb), and polonium (210Po) from the uranium decay series; the fission product (137Cs) from fallout; and naturally occurring potassium (40K). Natural background radiation doses average 2-4 mSv/year from cosmic rays, external gamma rays, radon inhalation, and ingestion of food items. The ingestion of 210Po and 137Cs when caribou are consumed adds to these background doses. The dose increment was 0.85 mSv/year for adults who consumed 100 g of caribou meat per day and up to 1.7 mSv/year if one liver and 10 kidneys per year were also consumed. We discuss the cancer risk from these doses. Concentration ratios (CRs), relating caribou tissues to lichens or rumen (stomach) contents, were calculated to estimate food chain transfer. The CRs for caribou muscle ranged from 1 to 16% for U, 6 to 25% for 226Ra, 1 to 2% for 210Pb, 6 to 26% for 210Po, 260 to 370% for 137Cs, and 76 to 130% for 40K, with 137Cs biomagnifying by a factor of 3-4. These CRs are useful in predicting caribou meat concentrations from the lichens, measured in monitoring programs, for the future evaluation of uranium mining impacts on this critical food chain.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Environmental pleural plaques in residents of a Quebec chrysotile mining town.

We report four cases of pleural plaques found at autopsy in individuals who resided in or near the chrysotile mining town of Thetford Mines, Quebec, and who had never been employed in the chrysotile mining and milling industry. Three of these patients were farmers, and one was a road construction worker. Lung asbestos content of these cases was compared with that of a group of nine persons living in the same vicinity who did not have pleural plaques. The plaque group was found to have an equal chrysotile content but about a fourfold elevation in median tremolite content, a statistically significant increase. Fiber sizes were the same in both groups. Also, one plaque case had an elevated level of relatively long titanium oxide fibers. These observations suggest that environmental pleural plaques in this region of Quebec are probably caused by exposure to tremolite derived from local soil and rock and that other types of mineral fibers such as titanium oxide may occasionally also be the cause of such lesions.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Environmental risk increase due to heavy metal contamination caused by a copper mining activity in Southern Brazil.

The Camaquã Copper Mines (CCM) were the main sulphide deposit in Southern Brazil and have been in operation from last century to 1996. To evaluate water contamination and environmental risk increase by heavy metals from mining operations, two points on the João Dias Creek were sampled (Station 1, background area and Station 2, contaminated area). Mining activity increased the natural weakly heavy metal fluxes by approximately 5424 kg. (approximately 60%) of the total metal flux, 1542 kg. (approximately 49%) of dissolved and 3881 kg (approximately 66%) of particulate metal flux. Total metal flux of anthropic origin was mostly due to Fe followed by Cu > Zn > Mn whereas Cd, As and Pb fluxes were negligible. The potential human health hazards and risk assessment related to daily intake of water from João Dias Creek are mostly due to Mn and should be of concern for the contaminated area. The ingestion of water from station 2 represents incremental risks of 130% and 59% respectively, considering the non-carcinogenic and the carcinogenic effects. The real increase of human health hazards may be greater than those related to the total concentrations since Mn and As dissolved concentrations were 5.5 and 2.0 higher than acceptable, respectively.

Brazil↗
PubMed2003

Establishing the impact of acid mine drainage through metal bioaccumulation and taxa richness of benthic insects in a tropical Asian stream (The Philippines).

The Boac-Makulapnit River (The Philippines) is contaminated with heavy metals primarily due to acid mine drainage (AMD). Heavy-metal levels in river water, sediment, and algae suggest that Cu is the primary contaminant in this system. Copper concentrations decrease longitudinally, indicating a contamination gradient away from the mine. This is also reflected in the whole-body metal concentration of the caddisfly Hydropsyche, wherein higher Cu levels are observed in upstream stations (677-980 microg/g in 2001). In 2002, AMD formation was observed in a midstream station resulting from the oxidation of mine tailings in floodplains deposited during a 1996 tailings spill event. This consequently increased heavy-metal concentrations locally in environmental media and is likewise perceived to have caused the absence of aquatic insects in the midstream reach. Copper concentrations also increased in Hydropsyche found downstream of the new AMD site during this year. Furthermore, even the lower Cu concentrations in Hydropsyche observed in downstream stations are still at least six times higher than the established regional baseline value (29.9 microg/g), which is calculated from samples from clean tributary streams. These tributary streams also showed higher taxa richness for aquatic insect community in riffle zones. Both biomonitoring tools suggest that the whole length of the river is severely impacted. Rehabilitation projects will be underway next year; therefore, such monitoring programs will truly be beneficial when gauging river habitat recovery.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Government regulation of occupational safety: underground coal mine accidents 1973-75.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the influence of federal mine safety inspections on underground coal mine accidents. An economic incentives model is developed to relate federal enforcement activities to accident rates. The determinants of accident rates are analyzed for 535 coal mines during the period 1973-75. Estimates based on these data when applied to the model indicate that increasing inspections by 25 per cent would have produced a 13 per cent decline in fatal accidents and an 18 per cent decline in disabling accidents.

Accident Prevention↗
PubMed1991

The United Mine Workers of American and the recognition of occupational respiratory diseases, 1902-1968.

This study examines the early efforts of the United Mine Workers of America to illuminate the problem of occupational respiratory diseases in the coal fields. The union used the hearings of the US Anthracite Coal Strike Commission of 1902-3 to draw public attention to "miners' asthma." In 1915, it began to agitate for the provision of workers' compensation benefits for victims of this disorder. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the union's Welfare and Retirement Fund disseminated information on advances in understanding chronic pulmonary diseases of mining. In particular, the miners' fund promoted the British conceptualization of a distinctive coal workers' pneumoconiosis. At the same time, the staff of the union health plan pressed the US Public Health Service and the Pennsylvania Department of Health to investigate the prevalence of occupational respiratory diseases among bituminous miners. Taken together, these endeavors contributed significantly to growing recognition of the severity and extent of this important public health problem and thus helped lay the foundation for the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969.

Collective Bargaining↗
PubMed2002

The history of uranium mining and the Navajo people.

From World War II until 1971, the government was the sole purchaser of uranium ore in the United States. Uranium mining occurred mostly in the southwestern United States and drew many Native Americans and others into work in the mines and mills. Despite a long and well-developed understanding, based on the European experience earlier in the century, that uranium mining led to high rates of lung cancer, few protections were provided for US miners before 1962 and their adoption after that time was slow and incomplete. The resulting high rates of illness among miners led in 1990 to passage of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.

Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Stabilization of composted organic matter after application to a humus-free sandy mining soil.

The use of mining substrates for recultivation purposes is limited due to their low organic matter (OM) contents. In a 1-yr laboratory experiment we evaluated the stabilization of biowaste compost added to a humus-free sandy mining soil to examine the suitability of compost amendment for the formation of stable soil organic matter (SOM). The stabilization process was characterized by measuring enrichment of OM and nitrogen in particle size fractions obtained after dispersion with different amounts of energy (ultrasonication and shaking in water), carbon mineralization, and amount of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). During the experiment, 17.1% of the organic carbon (OC) was mineralized. Organic carbon enrichment in the < 20-micron particle size fraction at the beginning of the experiment was in the range of natural soils with similar texture. Within 12 mo, a distinct OC redistribution from coarse into fine fractions was found with both dispersion methods. The accumulation of OC was more pronounced for the size separates obtained by ultrasonication, where the carbon distribution between 0.45- to 20-micron particle size fractions increased from 30% at the beginning to 71% at the end of the experiment. Dissolved organic carbon contents ranged between 50 and 68 g kg-1 OC and decreased during the incubation. In conclusion, the exponential decrease of carbon mineralization and the OC enrichment in the fine particle size fractions both indicated a distinct OM stabilization in the mining soil.

Carbon↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of water treatment sludge for ameliorating acid mine waste.

This study investigated the liming effect of water treatment sludge on acid mine spoils. The study was conducted with sludge from a water purification plant along the Vaal River catchments in South Africa. The optimum application rate for liming acid spoils and the speed and depth with which the sludge reacted with the mine waste were investigated. Chemical analysis indicated that the sludge is suitable as a liming agent because of its alkaline pH (8.08), high bicarbonate concentration (183.03 mg L(-1)), and low salinity (electrical conductivity = 76 mS m(-1)). The high cation exchange capacity of 15.47 cmol(c) kg(-1) and elevated nitrate concentration (73.16 mg L(-1)) also increase its value as an ameliorative material. The soluble concentrations for manganese, aluminum, lead, and selenium were high at a pH of 5 although only selenium (0.83 mg L(-1)) warranted some concern. According to experimental results, the application of 10 Mg ha(-1) of sludge to acid gold tailings increased the leach water pH from 4.5 to more than 7.5 and also increased the medium pH from 2.4 to 7.5. The addition of sludge further reduced the solubility of iron, manganese, copper, and zinc in the ameliorated gold tailings, but increased the electrical conductivity. The liming tempo was highest in the coal discard profile that had a coarse particle size distribution and took the longest to move through the gold tailings that had a fine particle size distribution. Results from this study indicate that the water treatment sludge investigated is suitable as a liming agent for rehabilitation of acid mine waste.

Calcium Compounds↗
PubMed2005

Accelerated weathering of biosolid-amended copper mine tailings.

Application of municipal biosolids to mine tailings can enhance revegetation success, but may cause adverse environmental impacts, such as increased leaching of NO3- and metals to ground water. Kinetic weathering cells were used to simulate geochemical weathering to determine the effects of biosolid amendment on (i) pH of leachate and tailings, (ii) leaching of NO3- and SO4(2-), (iii) leaching and bioavailability (DTPA-extractable) of selected metals, and (iv) changes in tailing mineralogy. Four Cu mine tailings from southern Arizona differing in initial pH (3.3-7.3) and degree of weathering were packed into triplicate weathering cells and were unamended and amended with two rates (equivalent to 134 and 200 Mg dry matter ha(-1)) of biosolids. Biosolid application to acid (pH 3.3) tailings resulted in pH values as high as 6.3 and leachate pH as high as 5.7, and biosolids applied to circumneutral tailings resulted in no change in tailing or leachate pH. Concentrations of NO3--N of up to 23 mg L(-1) occurred in leachates from circumneutral tailings. The low pH of the acidic tailing apparently inhibited nitrification, resulting in leachate NO3--N of <5 mg L(-1). Less SO4(2-)-S was leached in biosolid-amended versus unamended acid tailings (final rate of 0.04 compared with 0.11 g SO4(2-)-S wk(-1)). Copper concentrations in leachates from acidic tailings were reduced from 53 to 27 mg L(-1) with biosolid amendment. Copper and As concentrations increased slightly in leachates from biosolid-amended circumneutral tailings. Small increases in DTPA-extractable Cu, Ni, and Zn occurred in all tailings with increased biosolid rate. Overall, there was little evidence of potential for adverse environmental impacts resulting from biosolid application to these Cu mine tailings.

Biological Availability↗
PubMed1995

Occupational and environmental mesotheliomas due to crocidolite mining activities in Wittenoom, Western Australia.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to review existing cases, calculate rates, and predict future numbers of occupational and environmental mesotheliomas from Wittenoom. METHODS: On the basis of information contained in occupational and environmental histories, Wittenoom cases were extracted from national records collected since 1979. Occupational and residential population estimates were obtained from company and government records. The proportional latency method was used to predict the numbers of mesotheliomas prior to and after the data collection phase. Airborne fiber monitoring was used to calculate risk due to current levels of contamination in the mine and town environments. RESULTS: During 1979-1994, Wittenoom cases (N = 176) comprised approximately 6% of the mesothelioma cases recorded in Australia. Of these 122 were employed directly in the mining and milling activities, another 18 were involved in the transport of raw fiber or tailings, and 34 were town residents or visitors. Due to past exposures, additional occupational (N = 301) and environmental (N = 83) cases can be expected. Dependent on residential time, existing levels of contamination may result in a risk of between < 1 to 57 per million of the population. CONCLUSIONS: Latency effects will result in considerable numbers of mesotheliomas appearing over the next 10-20 years in Wittenoom. The cessation of mining activities and major clean up of the town will result in reduced mesothelioma cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Health care challenge in coal mines community.

The present paper depicts salient features of environment and living conditions with the comparison of various diseases prevalent among underground coal miners, surface workers, asbestos mine workers and general population of Jharia-Dhanbad coalfield as conducted by CMRS during the past few years. The investigations on coal miners' community comprise of different morbid conditions with respiratory (22%), Pneumoconiosis (11.6%), Skin (35%), Eye (29%), Intestinal parasitic infestation (44.6%), Anaemia (42%), Immunostatus (V.D.R.L. Positive-19.9%), Status of injuries and Blood pressure, Water-borne diseases, housing facilities and excreta disposal. The paper also includes the analysis of disease pattern obtained from hospital records of two coal mines which depicts 19.1%, 24.7% and 16% members of coal miners' families suffering from disorder with respiratory, gastro-intestinal and fever respectively. With speedy industrialization of the country, the mining of coal resource comes first in the chain of socio-economic development. The speedy human industrial activities are based on 80% steam, metallurgical and thermal electrical energy which hinges on coal wings. The coal has also gradually occupied all the phases of social life, our clothes, books, newspapers, cooking gas, chemical paints, dye stuff, oil phenyl, Benzene, Naphthalene, Coal tar, scents and various types of unaccountable products come out from coal derivatives and pushed to serve in the today's market for our daily exigencies. Every day one finds a new coal based industry is coming up in the area. The coal is utilized in two hundred ways in our various walks of social life.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1998

[Clinical characteristics of burn caused by coal mine explosion].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of the burn injury caused by coal mine explosion so as to enhance the cure rate. METHODS: Analyse the therapeutic result after planned standard treatment of clinical patients and review historical patients. RESULTS: 1. Coal mine explosion includes two types, i.e., gas explosion and coal dust explosion. 2. This kind of burn is a combined injury with pathologic changes of burns as the main feature. Mechanical injury is the chief cause of early death. Blast injury mainly damages the lungs. The occurrence of carboxyhemoglobinemia is not often. 3. The amount of fluid infusion in the first 24 h in exudation phase is 8% less of the traditional formula. Alkaline balanced salt solution is supplied as electrolyte solution, which can provide 45% of necessary HCO3- for correction of acidosis. 4. No thorough debridement is imposed in the treatment of burn wound. Baking with electric bulb with topical SD-Ag in semi-exposure state can be used. 5. Inhalation injury chiefly occurs in upper respiratory tract. The main bacterial species causing complicated lung infection are Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. 6. When MSOF occurs, the most frequently involved organ and system are the kidney and respiratory system. 7. The main bacteria causing systemic invasive infection are enteric bacilli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Enteric bacilli infection may be enterogenic. The latter infection is chiefly the result of cross infection in hospital. CONCLUSION: The burn caused by coal mine explosion is a combined injury characterized by pathologic changes of burn as the main issue. This kind of burn has two types, i.e., gas-explosion-burn and coal-dust-explosion-burn.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Changes in the interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 concentrations in the blood plasma of miners working in deep coal mines].

Blood plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured in 45 miners working in a deep coal mine immediately after work shift using an immunoenzyme technique. The highest IL-6 level was recorded in those miners engaged in hard work under most adverse conditions of underground workings--it was found to exceed the control values. The same group of workers demonstrated the lowest level of IL-10 that differed from the control value. Miners aged between 41 to 50 years working in a coal mine, their underground service duration 16 to 20 years, displayed a decline in the level of IL-6. The coal mine miners with the 11- to 15-year service duration revealed an increase in the level of IL-10.

Adult↗