Scrubbed clean

摘要

Dust is a detrimental, but inherent, consequence of any mining process and is particularly problematic in underground coal mining. The prevalence of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, which is a debilitating and irreversible lung disease, has steadily and significantly declined since the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 (Public Law 91-173, 1969). However, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) indicates that health hazards associated with respirable dust still exist.