Estimation of real-time PM exposure and associated health risk of HEMM operators using low-cost sensors in a highly mechanised opencast coal mine

IF 2.9 4区 环境科学与生态学 Q3 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Dhruti Sundar Pradhan, Aditya Kumar Patra, Abhishek Penchala, Samrat Santra
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Abstract

The working environment of the operators of heavy earth moving machineries (HEMMs) expose them to high airborne particulate matter (PM) concentration as a part of their occupation. Using a set of low-cost sensors, the present study investigated the in-cabin PM exposure of dumper, shovel and drill machine operators and compared it with the cabin outside PM concentration in a large opencast mine where a large number of HEMMs are deployed. The results revealed that the drill operators were exposed to the highest in-cabin PM concentration (PM1 = 190.98 ± 30.3 µg m−3, PM2.5 = 281 ± 52.85 µg m−3, PM10 = 1475.23 ± 915.42 µg m−3) followed by the exposures of shovel (PM1 = 45.62 ± 24.28 µg m−3, PM2.5 = 97.85 ± 51.10 µg m−3, PM10 = 354.38 ± 219.69 µg m−3) and dumper operators (PM1 = 42.08 ± 18.25 µg m−3, PM2.5 = 90.38 ± 44.55 µg m−3, PM10 = 331.05 ± 225.65 µg m−3). The exposure in the evening shift was 10% higher than exposure during the morning shift. The in-cabin PM concentrations while the dumper travelled on main haul road were ~ 2 times of the corresponding values when it travelled on the internal haul road. In addition to the outside concentration, the in-cabin PM levels are influenced by cabin ventilation (AC vs. non-AC), structural leakage, and door/window operation. AC cabins could reduce the PM exposure up to 40% (10% for non-AC cabins) than ambient mine environments. GLM explained 65–89% of PM concentration variability, with HEMM type and meteorological parameters as significant predictors. The health risk assessment indicates that all operators are exposed to non-carcinogenic health risks, as the Risk Quotient (RQ) values for each exceed the threshold of 1 (RQ > 1). Notably, the drill operator is subjected to the highest non-carcinogenic risk, with an RQ value of 8. While, the Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) assessment for PM2.5 exposure reveals potential carcinogenic risks among operators in two age groups. For the 18-year age group, the ELCR values range from 6.15 × 10⁻4 to 1.92 × 10⁻3, whereas for the 21 years and above age group, the values range from 5.13 × 10⁻4 to 1.60 × 10⁻3, indicating elevated cancer risk among 18 + age group of operators. This research highlights the occupational health risk of the HEMM operators working in opencast mines and important role of low-cost sensors in real-time PM exposure assessment in mining environments.

在一个高度机械化的露天煤矿中,使用低成本传感器估算HEMM操作员的实时PM暴露和相关的健康风险
重型土方机械(hemm)操作员的工作环境使他们暴露在高空气悬浮物质(PM)浓度中,这是他们职业的一部分。本研究采用一套低成本传感器,对大型露天矿中自卸车、铲车和钻机操作员舱内PM暴露情况进行了调查,并将其与舱内PM浓度进行了比较。结果显示,钻运营商受到最高的客舱点浓度(PM1 = 190.98±30.3µg m−3,PM2.5 = 281±52.85µg m−3,PM10 = 1475.23±915.42µg m−3)其次是铲的曝光(PM1 = 45.62±24.28µg m−3,PM2.5 = 97.85±51.10µg m−3,PM10 = 354.38±219.69µg m−3)和翻车机运营商(PM1 = 42.08±18.25µg m−3,PM2.5 = 90.38±44.55µg m−3,PM10 = 331.05±225.65µg m−3)。夜班的暴露量比早班高10%。自卸车在主运道上行驶时,舱内颗粒物浓度是在内运道上行驶时的2倍左右。除外界浓度外,客舱内PM水平还受到客舱通风(空调与非空调)、结构泄漏和门窗操作的影响。与矿井环境相比,交流舱室可减少高达40%(非交流舱室可减少10%)的PM暴露。GLM解释了65-89%的PM浓度变异,其中HEMM类型和气象参数是重要的预测因子。健康风险评估表明,所有操作人员都面临非致癌性健康风险,因为每个操作人员的风险商(RQ)值都超过了1的阈值(RQ > 1)。值得注意的是,钻工的非致癌风险最高,RQ值为8。同时,PM2.5暴露的超额终身癌症风险(ELCR)评估揭示了两个年龄组操作员的潜在致癌风险。对于18岁年龄组,ELCR值从6.15 × 10毒血症到1.92 × 10毒血症,而对于21岁及以上年龄组,ELCR值从5.13 × 10毒血症到1.60 × 10毒血症,这表明18岁以上年龄组的操作者患癌症的风险更高。本研究强调了露天矿山HEMM作业人员的职业健康风险,以及低成本传感器在矿山环境中实时PM暴露评估中的重要作用。
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来源期刊
Air Quality Atmosphere and Health
Air Quality Atmosphere and Health ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES-
CiteScore
8.80
自引率
2.00%
发文量
146
审稿时长
>12 weeks
期刊介绍: Air Quality, Atmosphere, and Health is a multidisciplinary journal which, by its very name, illustrates the broad range of work it publishes and which focuses on atmospheric consequences of human activities and their implications for human and ecological health. It offers research papers, critical literature reviews and commentaries, as well as special issues devoted to topical subjects or themes. International in scope, the journal presents papers that inform and stimulate a global readership, as the topic addressed are global in their import. Consequently, we do not encourage submission of papers involving local data that relate to local problems. Unless they demonstrate wide applicability, these are better submitted to national or regional journals. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health addresses such topics as acid precipitation; airborne particulate matter; air quality monitoring and management; exposure assessment; risk assessment; indoor air quality; atmospheric chemistry; atmospheric modeling and prediction; air pollution climatology; climate change and air quality; air pollution measurement; atmospheric impact assessment; forest-fire emissions; atmospheric science; greenhouse gases; health and ecological effects; clean air technology; regional and global change and satellite measurements. This journal benefits a diverse audience of researchers, public health officials and policy makers addressing problems that call for solutions based in evidence from atmospheric and exposure assessment scientists, epidemiologists, and risk assessors. Publication in the journal affords the opportunity to reach beyond defined disciplinary niches to this broader readership.
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