Laboratory and field evaluation of three low-cost particulate matter sensors

Low-cost off-the-shelf particulate matter (PM) sensors have the potentiality to be used for evaluating the air quality in outdoor settings. Monitoring of air quality in surface coal mines is an example of such applications. In coal mines, long-term exposure to inhalation of coal dust is harmful and can lead to coal workers' pneumoconiosis, which is a potentially disabling lung disease. Therefore, continual monitoring of air quality in coal mines is a must and vital and can potentially assist in preventing such diseases. Although, using and deploying of the existing low-cost and lightweight sensors can help to improve monitoring resolution in a much cost-effective manner, there are some concerns regarding the reliability of the collected data from these sensors. Therefore, low-cost PM sensors are required to initially be compared with the standard reference instruments and then be calibrated. In this study, three different types of low-cost, light-scattering-based widely available PM sensors (Shinyei PPD42NS, Sharp GP2Y1010AU0F and Laser SEN0177) are evaluated, compared, and calibrated with the reference instruments in a controlled environment as well as in a field experiment (surface coal mineLow-cost off-the-shelf particulate matter (PM) sensors have the potentiality to be used for evaluating the air quality in outdoor settings. Monitoring of air quality in surface coal mines is an example of such applications. In coal mines, long-term exposure to inhalation of coal dust is harmful and can lead to coal workers' pneumoconiosis, which is a potentially disabling lung disease. Therefore, continual monitoring of air quality in coal mines is a must and vital and can potentially assist in preventing such diseases. Although, using and deploying of the existing low-cost and lightweight sensors can help to improve monitoring resolution in a much cost-effective manner, there are some concerns regarding the reliability of the collected data from these sensors. Therefore, low-cost PM sensors are required to initially be compared with the standard reference instruments and then be calibrated. In this study, three different types of low-cost, light-scattering-based widely available PM sensors (Shinyei PPD42NS, Sharp GP2Y1010AU0F and Laser SEN0177) are evaluated, compared, and calibrated with the reference instruments in a controlled environment as well as in a field experiment (surface coal mineAlpha Foundation for the Improvement of Mine Safety and Health. Grant Number: Grant Number AFC417-39Alpha Foundation for the Improvement of Mine Safety and Health. Grant Number: Grant Number AFC417-3

NOₓ Emission of Equipment and Blasting Agents in Surface Coal Mining

Surface coal mining in the Appalachian region consumes a significant amount of energy in the form of diesel fuel and blasting agents. Emission of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from these sources represents an environmental challenge to the mining industry. This paper presents the results of research work related to determination of NOx emission of mining equipment and blasting agents, which is part of a broader industrial project conducted by the Appalachian Research Initiative for Environmental Research (ARIES). Data for this project are collected from an operating surface coal mine in West Virginia. The research work presented here may be used by mining professionals to aid in quantifying NOx emission and determine strategies for reducing its overall environmental impact

Dust Characterization and Source Apportionment at an Active Surface Mine in West Virginia

Human exposures to environmental agents occur primarily through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption. The relevant exposure pathways for coal mining will depend on a number of factors including; physical and toxicological properties of suspected agent, mining practices, and mode of agent transport. There is increasing evidence that the major transport route to Appalachian coal mining communities is fugitive dust transported from surface mine sites. However, the extent of exposure and resulting risk is unknown. As a result, site specific data is necessary to evaluate potential exposures from dust generated as a result of coal mining activities. The objective of this study is to characterize potential health risk associated with exposure to the dust collected from an active surface mine in West Virginia. Dust monitoring and sampling was conducted at an active surface mine in West Virginia. Real-time dust monitoring device (DustTrak DRX Aerosol Monitor 8534) was used to measure PM1, PM2.5, PM10, and Total PM mass and size fractions. Dust monitoring was conducted for overburden and coal loading operations, and trucks at the haul roads. In addition, dust samples associated with drill cuttings, cóal haul roads, overburden haul roads, wheel loader for shale overburden, and rope shovel operations were collected from various areas in the mine. Dust samples collected from the mine underwent particle size analysis and collection of ingestible and respirable size fractions followed by elemental analysis. The chemical data combined with the monitoring data allowed for exposure due to dust exposure to be calculated using standard risk equations. Using the same default values for exposure frequency, exposure duration, and averaging time; exposure due to background soil and dust was calculated in order to estimate risk of disease incident in non-coal mining communities. The 95th percentile PM10 concentrations at 9-11m from the various mining practices were 0.12, 0.084, 0.62 and 0.43 mg/m3 for coal road trucking (truck-coal), wheel loader, overburden trucking (truck-overburden), and rope shovel operations respectively. Results indicate that even with an extreme scenario; 95th percentile air particulate concentrations 9-11 m from the mining operation, 365 days/year for 70 years, exposure to constituents via inhalation accounts for a relatively small portion of total exposure when everyday incidental ingestion of native soil is considered. Dust generated from an active WV coal mine did not account for a majority of exposure to constituents that could potentially result in health effects. Rather, default USEPA values for calculating ingestion exposure suggest that everyday residential exposure to native WV soil may account for more than 70% of the total exposure to the 18 inorganic constituents quantified in this study