TOXICITY AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH HAZARDS OF COAL FLY ASH (CFA). A REVIEW OF DATA AND COMPARISON TO COAL MINE DUST

摘要

Coal fly ashes (CFA) are complex particles of a variable composition, which is mainly dependent on the combustion process, the source of coal and the precipitation technique. Toxic constituents in these particles are considered to be metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and silica. The purpose of this review was to study the in vitro and in vivo data on coal fly ash and relate the studied endpoints to the role of (crystalline) silica, considering its recent classification as a human carcinogen. For most of the effects coal mine dust was chosen as a reference, since it contains up to 10/100 of crystalline silica (α-quartz) and is well studied both in vivo and in vitro.