PARTICULATE POLLUTION IN OPENCAST COAL MINES

摘要

Concern about particulate pollution in and around the mine environment has arisen in recent years as a result of increased environmental awareness of the general public. The extent to which the suspended particulate matter (SPM) affects the human respiratory system is predominantly based on its characterisation and concentration in the atmosphere. To assess the particulate pollution in and around the opencast mining projects of Singrauli coalfield air quality monitoring was conducted at both dust generating and non-generating sites of the area. Studies revealed higher concentration of SPM in this coalfield. The quality of SPM at the coal working faces, coalyards, coal handling plants and haul roads used for transportation of coal were dominated with coal particles whereas higher percentage of silica were noticed near drilling sites in overburden and on haul roads used for the transportation of overburden material.