A Series of Studies to Support and Improve DPM Sampling in Underground Mines

Diesel particulate matter (DPM) is the solid portion of diesel exhaust, which occurs primarily in the submicron range. It is complex in nature, occuring in clusters and agglomerated chains, and with variable composition depending on engine operating conditions, fuel type, equipment maintenance, etc. DPM is an occupational health hazard that has been associated with lung cancer risks and other respiratory issues. Underground miners have some of the highest exposures to DPM, due to work in confined spaces with diesel powered equipment. Large-opening mines present particular concerns because sufficient ventilation is very challenging. In such environments, reliable DPM sampling and monitoring is critical to protecting miner health. Though complex, DPM is made up primarily of elemental (EC) and organic carbon (OC), which can be summed to obtain total carbon (TC). The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) currently limits personal DPM exposures in metal/non-metal mines to 160 µg/m3 TC on an 8-hour time weighted average. To demonstrate compliance, exposures are monitored by collecting filter samples, which are sent to an outside lab and analyzed using the NIOSH 5040 Standard Method. To support real-time results, and thus more timely decision making, the Airtec handheld DPM monitor was developed. It measures EC, which is generally well correlated with TC, using a laser absorption technique as DPM accumulates on a filter sample. Though intended as a personal monitor, the Airtec has application as an engineering tool. A field study is reported here which demonstrated the usefulness of the Airtec in tracking temporal and spatial trends in DPM. An approach to sensitizing the monitor to allow "spot checking" was also demonstrated. Since DPM in mine environments generally occurs with other airborne particulates, namely dust generated during the mining process, DPM sampling must be done with consideration for analytical interferences. A common approach to dealing with mineral dust interferences is to use size selectors in the sampling train to separate DPM from dust; these devices are generally effective because DPM and dust largely occur in different size ranges. An impactor-type device (DPMI) is currently the industry standard for DPM sampling, but it is designed as a consumable device. Particularly for continuous monitoring applications, the sharp cut cyclone (SCC) has been suggested as a favorable alternative. In another field study reported here, the effect of aging (i.e., loading as an artifact of sampling) on the DPMI and SCC was investigated. Results suggest the effective cut size of the DPMI will be reduced much more rapidly than that of the SCC with aging — though even in a relatively high dust, high DPM environment, the DPMI performs adequately. In a third field study, the possibility of attachment between DPM and respirable dust particles was investigated. Such a phenomenon may have implications for both reliable sampling and health outcomes. Data collected by transmission electron microscope (TEM) on samples collected in the study mine showed that DPM-dust attachment does indeed occur. Moreover, the study results suggest that respirable particulate sampling — as opposed to submicron sampling, which is currently used — may be favorable for ensuring that oversized DPM is not excluded from samples. This strategy may require additional sample preparation to minimize dust interferences, but methods have been previously developed and were demonstrated here.