5
particle shapes. Some results from these contracts are the
recognition of nanoparticles generated in mining opera-
tions, the presence of micro-agglomerated particles, and the
occurrence of differing chemical materials in the samples.
There are currently 5 active contracts related to respirable
dust characterization which are described individually.
Additionally, there have been 4 contracts that have been
completed, in which a broad overview is provided.
Active Contracts
Reduction or Elimination of Coal Mining Related Respirable
Dust Toxicity by Selection and Proper Application of Dust
Control Additives -Pennsylvania State University
Researchers are reviewing and studying various chemi-
cal dust control additives for reduction or elimination of
dust toxicity with a focus on eliminating silica toxicity but
have not yet been implemented in mine operations. The
different chemical additives will be analyzed with different
coal mine material types. Results of toxicity reduction as
measured by hydroxyl radical generation will be used in
determining the potential application for dust control and/
or toxicity reduction of respirable coal mine dust.
Advancing the Understanding of Respirable Silica Occurrence
in Coal Mines—Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University.
An evaluation of the relative abundance of respirable sil-
ica containing micro agglomerates and their characteris-
tics (e.g., size, dispersibility) in respirable coal mine dust
(RCMD) is being performed. Tests will be conducted to
evaluate the capabilities of advanced SEM-EDX tools for
classification of respirable silica micro-agglomerates and
other micro-agglomerates and characterize respirable silica
particles (e.g., size, occlusion, association with other par-
ticles) in lung tissue specimens from coal miners with pro-
gressive massive fibrosis.
Investigation of Respirable Mine Dust and Crystalline
Silica Dust Characteristics and Toxicity in Metal/Nonmetal
Mines—New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.
This project leverages resources from ongoing interdisci-
plinary collaborations, including mining engineering, envi-
ronmental chemistry, and mineral processing, to investigate
the characteristics and toxicity of mine dust and RCS in
metal/non-metal mines. Characterization studies (i.e., size,
shape, surface area, mineralogy, elemental components) on
mine dust and RCS samples of metal/non-metal operations
are being conducted. Toxicity of metal/non-metal mine
dust using simulated lung fluid and in-vitro toxicity com-
parisons of respirable dust will be investigated.
Size-dependent Metric Analysis of Respirable Coal Mine Dust
(RCMD) -Michigan Technological University.
This contract has two objectives. The first objective of this
project is to develop a beyond-compliance approach of
characterizing size-dependent metrics of RCMD particles,
addressing one recommendation by National Academy of
Sciences (NAS) committee [37] on particle size informa-
tion of RCMD particles. The metrics of RCMD particles
include particle size information, elemental and mineral
compositions at different size fractions. The second objec-
tive of this project is to develop a protocol for the char-
acterization of RCMD collected on CPDM filters that
are normally discarded after each shift. The impact of this
method is to generate a large quantity of dataset on the
metrics of RCMD from various operating underground
coal mines in the United States.
Characterization of Forms of Silica with Varying Degrees
of Crystallinity in Respirable Dust to Assess their Effects on
Miners’ Pneumoconiosis—Pennsylvania State University.
An evaluation of the presence and forms of silica in the
respirable dust from various host rocks through an inte-
grated experimental and field study program will be con-
ducted. The overall goal of this study is to characterize
various forms of silica and provide statistically significant
silica characteristics for future toxicity analysis. The project
aims are to 1) collect representative floor, roof rock samples
from different mines to prepare dust samples, 2) character-
ize rock dust samples to get the physical and compositional
properties, including the proportion of crystalline and non-
crystalline silica components, and 3) correlate what forms
of crystalline of non-crystalline silica are related to different
host rocks. The results will lay the foundation for inves-
tigating the effect of non-crystalline silica on biological
effects on lung cells.
Completed Contracts
Integration of RCMD and RCS Physicochemistry and
Toxicity Outcomes in an Occupational Risk Assessment
Model—New Mexico Tech
The establishment of a validated model which risk-stratifies
miners for coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) based on
mine-, dust-, and miner- specific measures that could help
identify high-risk miners who may benefit from the early
intervention was proposed. Comprehensive characteriza-
tion studies (i.e., size, shape, mineralogy, elemental content)
and toxicity analysis (using a high-throughput, imaging
platform) to capture distinct in vitro physiologic and phe-
notypic data involved in toxicity were completed on dust
samples collected from mines selected from geographically
particle shapes. Some results from these contracts are the
recognition of nanoparticles generated in mining opera-
tions, the presence of micro-agglomerated particles, and the
occurrence of differing chemical materials in the samples.
There are currently 5 active contracts related to respirable
dust characterization which are described individually.
Additionally, there have been 4 contracts that have been
completed, in which a broad overview is provided.
Active Contracts
Reduction or Elimination of Coal Mining Related Respirable
Dust Toxicity by Selection and Proper Application of Dust
Control Additives -Pennsylvania State University
Researchers are reviewing and studying various chemi-
cal dust control additives for reduction or elimination of
dust toxicity with a focus on eliminating silica toxicity but
have not yet been implemented in mine operations. The
different chemical additives will be analyzed with different
coal mine material types. Results of toxicity reduction as
measured by hydroxyl radical generation will be used in
determining the potential application for dust control and/
or toxicity reduction of respirable coal mine dust.
Advancing the Understanding of Respirable Silica Occurrence
in Coal Mines—Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University.
An evaluation of the relative abundance of respirable sil-
ica containing micro agglomerates and their characteris-
tics (e.g., size, dispersibility) in respirable coal mine dust
(RCMD) is being performed. Tests will be conducted to
evaluate the capabilities of advanced SEM-EDX tools for
classification of respirable silica micro-agglomerates and
other micro-agglomerates and characterize respirable silica
particles (e.g., size, occlusion, association with other par-
ticles) in lung tissue specimens from coal miners with pro-
gressive massive fibrosis.
Investigation of Respirable Mine Dust and Crystalline
Silica Dust Characteristics and Toxicity in Metal/Nonmetal
Mines—New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.
This project leverages resources from ongoing interdisci-
plinary collaborations, including mining engineering, envi-
ronmental chemistry, and mineral processing, to investigate
the characteristics and toxicity of mine dust and RCS in
metal/non-metal mines. Characterization studies (i.e., size,
shape, surface area, mineralogy, elemental components) on
mine dust and RCS samples of metal/non-metal operations
are being conducted. Toxicity of metal/non-metal mine
dust using simulated lung fluid and in-vitro toxicity com-
parisons of respirable dust will be investigated.
Size-dependent Metric Analysis of Respirable Coal Mine Dust
(RCMD) -Michigan Technological University.
This contract has two objectives. The first objective of this
project is to develop a beyond-compliance approach of
characterizing size-dependent metrics of RCMD particles,
addressing one recommendation by National Academy of
Sciences (NAS) committee [37] on particle size informa-
tion of RCMD particles. The metrics of RCMD particles
include particle size information, elemental and mineral
compositions at different size fractions. The second objec-
tive of this project is to develop a protocol for the char-
acterization of RCMD collected on CPDM filters that
are normally discarded after each shift. The impact of this
method is to generate a large quantity of dataset on the
metrics of RCMD from various operating underground
coal mines in the United States.
Characterization of Forms of Silica with Varying Degrees
of Crystallinity in Respirable Dust to Assess their Effects on
Miners’ Pneumoconiosis—Pennsylvania State University.
An evaluation of the presence and forms of silica in the
respirable dust from various host rocks through an inte-
grated experimental and field study program will be con-
ducted. The overall goal of this study is to characterize
various forms of silica and provide statistically significant
silica characteristics for future toxicity analysis. The project
aims are to 1) collect representative floor, roof rock samples
from different mines to prepare dust samples, 2) character-
ize rock dust samples to get the physical and compositional
properties, including the proportion of crystalline and non-
crystalline silica components, and 3) correlate what forms
of crystalline of non-crystalline silica are related to different
host rocks. The results will lay the foundation for inves-
tigating the effect of non-crystalline silica on biological
effects on lung cells.
Completed Contracts
Integration of RCMD and RCS Physicochemistry and
Toxicity Outcomes in an Occupational Risk Assessment
Model—New Mexico Tech
The establishment of a validated model which risk-stratifies
miners for coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) based on
mine-, dust-, and miner- specific measures that could help
identify high-risk miners who may benefit from the early
intervention was proposed. Comprehensive characteriza-
tion studies (i.e., size, shape, mineralogy, elemental content)
and toxicity analysis (using a high-throughput, imaging
platform) to capture distinct in vitro physiologic and phe-
notypic data involved in toxicity were completed on dust
samples collected from mines selected from geographically