Dust exposure during small-scale mining in Tanzania:: A pilot study

被引:27
作者
Bråtveit, M
Moen, BE
Mashalla, YJS
Maalim, H
机构
[1] Univ Bergen, Dept Publ Hlth & Primary Hlth Care, Sect Occupat Med, N-5009 Bergen, Norway
[2] Muhimbili Univ, Coll Hlth Sci, Dept Physiol, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
[3] Work & Hlth, Arusha, Tanzania
关键词
crystalline silica; quartz; mining; developing country; Tanzania;
D O I
10.1093/annhyg/meg027
中图分类号
R1 [预防医学、卫生学];
学科分类号
1004 ; 120402 ;
摘要
Small-scale mining in developing countries is generally labour-intensive and carried out with low levels of mechanization. In the Mererani area in the northern part of Tanzania, there are about 15000 underground miners who are constantly subjected to a poor working environment. Gemstones are found at depths down to 500 m. The objectives of this pilot study were to monitor the exposure to dust during work processes, which are typical of small-scale mining in developing countries, and to make a rough estimation of whether there is a risk of chronic pulmonary diseases for the workers. Personal sampling of respirable dust (n = 15) and 'total' dust (n = 5) was carried out during three consecutive days in one mine, which had a total of 50 workers in two shifts. Sampling started immediately before the miners entered the shaft, and lasted until they reappeared at the mine entrance after 5-8 h. The median crystalline silica content and the combustible content of the respirable dust samples were 14.2 and 5.5%, respectively. When drilling, blasting and shovelling were carried out, the exposure measurements showed high median levels of respirable dust (15.5 mg/m(3)), respirable crystalline silica (2.4 mg/m(3)), respirable combustible dust (1.5 mg/m3) and 'total' dust (28.4 mg/m(3)). When only shovelling and loading of sacks took place, the median exposures to respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica were 4.3 and 1.1 mg/m(3). This study shows that the exposure to respirable crystalline silica was high during underground small-scale mining. In the absence of personal protective equipment, the miners in the Mererani area are presumably at a high risk of developing chronic silicosis.
引用
收藏
页码:235 / 240
页数:6
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