Abstract
Overburden (OB) dumps and associated haulage are the significant contributors to increased respirable particulate levels in mining areas. Earlier studies have only focused on reporting seasonal variation of size-segregated particle mass concentration, limiting the role of specific emission sources on sensitive receptors nearby. This study estimated the impact of OB dump expansion (between years 2016 and 2018) with associated haulage on spatial pattern of particulate concentration, associated health effects, and health cost. Furthermore, a model to identify critical health risk zones was also developed. Haulage of OB and its unloading contributed to a significant increase in particulate concentration on the windward side. Moreover, OB dumping resulted in a higher respiratory dose for workers and inhabitants nearby the OB dumpsite. The results indicated that coughing along with lower respiratory problems were the dominant health effects. Moreover, the cases of lower respiratory symptoms due to PM10 emissions from OB dumps increased in 2018. The risk potential model indicated a 4.9% increase in high risk category for the population exposed to PM10 emission from OB expansion within two years. An alternative management option was proposed to reduce health risk potential. The control resulted in 73% peak concentration curtailment and 84% reduction in the surface area exceeding prescribed PM10 (100 µg/m3) levels. The said study will be useful in demarcating risk zones and findings have particular significance for dispersion of particulates emanating from OB dumps.
Highlights
IntroductionSurface mining generates a humungous amount of overburden (OB) solid wastes (soil and rock materials lying below the surface and above the mineral deposit) that are substantial sources of fugitive dust concentration(Landis et al 2012; Zhang et al 2016)
Surface mining generates a humungous amount of overburden (OB) solid wastes that are substantial sources of fugitive dust concentration(Landis et al 2012; Zhang et al 2016)
In order to evaluate the contribution of OB dump, background PM10 concentration were monitored at the adjacent coal quarry
Summary
Surface mining generates a humungous amount of overburden (OB) solid wastes (soil and rock materials lying below the surface and above the mineral deposit) that are substantial sources of fugitive dust concentration(Landis et al 2012; Zhang et al 2016). Surface coal mining contributed to ~90% of total coal production in India (Sahu 2018) and generated 2-3 billion tonnes per annum of OB solid waste (Bishwal et al 2018). These OB dumps have been the significant contributors to inhalable particulates, i.e., having an aerodynamic diameter lower than 10 μm (PM10) (Rai et al.2020; Ghose 2007; Onder and Yigit 2008). The background PM10 concentration was measured through a portable aerosol spectrometer (GRIMM, Model 1.109) that directly provides the mass-fractioned concentration in different size bins (0.265-34 μm). It draws sample with a flow rate of 1.2 l/min and provides measurement of PMC in 31 size channels for different sizes like PM 10, PM2.5, and PM1.The real time particle mass concentration (PMC) in respective bins of varying sizes are added to obtain
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