Dust Control – Soil Stabilization – Erosion Control

Posts Tagged ‘coal dust’

The occupational overexposure to coal mine dust by coal miners continues to occur despite legally enforceable limits, U.S. health officials say.

Deaths occurring among younger persons from coal workers’ pneumoconiosis declined substantially from 1968-2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released Wednesday says. Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis is the accumulation of coal dust in the lungs and the tissue’s reaction to its presence.

However, annual years of potential life before age 65 of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis have been increasing since 2002, and mean years of potential life before age 65 per decedent has been increasing since the early 1990s — meaning that workers die at younger age — the study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health finds.

The NIOSH study recommends hazard surveillance, workplace-specific interventions and strengthening of current coal workers’ pneumoconiosis prevention and elimination efforts to protect workers’ health.

The anticipated $100 million it will cost each year to reduce coal dust on shipments of Wyoming coal out of the Powder River Basin is causing friction between the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. and some public utilities.

BNSF, as well as the Union Pacific Railroad, have spent hundreds of millions of dollars already to reduce coal dust since a 2005 derailment was blamed on coal dust accumulation on the tracks.

But industry officials say additional coal dust suppression measures may be required, costing millions more.

Possible solutions include covering cars, applying a latex coating, or filling cars with less coal.

American Public Power Association estimates whatever method is chosen will add $100 million annually to the cost of shipping coal out of the Powder River Basin.

Soils Control International has accomplished the same results with their product, Top-Seal Dust Control 

DuPont Australia’s groundbreaking work to reduce dust emissions from trains carrying coal and to improve air quality recently earned two industry awards:

* The Australian Mining Prospect Award for Excellence in Environmental Management
* The Australian Bulk Handling Award for Dust Control Technology

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Techniques for removing dust from the air have varied over the years. During that time, methods have focused on a dust collection and suppression system. The difference between a dust collector and a dust suppression system is how the dust is initially treated. Dust collectors form a vacuum to capture the dust and remove it from the surrounding air. It is then transferred to a filter or bag for proper disposal. A dust suppression system does not attempt to remove the dust from the physical area. Instead it places it back to its source. Best of all, a dust suppression system is more affordable.

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