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Work-Related Lung Disease (WoRLD) Surveillance System

Home > Appendix F

Appendix F: Pneumoconiotic agent categories for MSHA and OSHA data

Table F-1. Pneumoconiotic agent categories for MSHA and OSHA data

Pneumoconiotic Agent Category
(as defined for
this report)

MSHA Agents in Category

OSHA Agents in Category

Asbestos

Asbestos, fibers > 5 µm in length (3MgO.2SiO2.2H2O)

Asbestos [actinolite, anthophyllite, chrysotile, crocidolite, tremolite]
Talc, containing fibrous tremolite

Cotton Dust

 

Cotton dust (raw)
Flax dust*

Coal Mine Dust

Respirable coal mine dust, <= 5% quartz

 

Quartz

Respirable coal mine dust, > 5% quartz 
Respirable dust, > 1% quartz
Nuisance dust (respirable fraction), < 1% quartz**
Unlisted particulate (respirable fraction), < 1% quartz**
Respirable dust (not analyzed or below detection limit)**

Respirable crystalline silica (as quartz)
Respirable crystalline silica/tripoli (as quartz)
Respirable coal dust, > 5% quartz

Other

Aluminum oxide dust (as Al2O3)
Aluminum oxide fume (as Al2O3)
Antimony dusts (as Sb)
Beryllium dusts (as Be)
Beryllium fumes (as Be)
Carbon black
Cobalt dusts (as Co)
Cobalt fumes (as Co)
Cristobalite (respirable fraction)
Graphite, natural
Iron oxide fume (as Fe2O3)
Mica
Silica (Amorphous)
Talc, fibers > 5 µm in length  (Mg3Si4O10(OH)2)
Talc, nonfibrous, < 1% quartz
Tin oxide dust (as SnO2)
Tin oxide fume (as SnO2)
Tin, inorganic dusts, except SnO2 (as Sn)
Titanium dioxide dust (as TiO2)
Titanium dioxide fume (as TiO2)
Tridymite (respirable fraction)
Tungsten fumes (as W)
Tungsten, insoluble dusts (as W)
Welding fumes (total dust)

Alpha‑alumina (total dust)
Alpha-alumina (respirable fraction)
Aluminum oxide
Aluminum (as Al), metal (total dust)
Aluminum (as Al), metal (respirable fraction)
Aluminum (as Al), welding fumes
Antimony and compounds (as Sb)
Barium (insoluble compounds)
Barium sulfate (total dust)
Barium sulfate (respirable fraction)
Beryllium and compounds (as Be)
Carbon black
Cobalt, metal, fume and dust (as Co)
Emery (total dust)
Emery (respirable fraction)
Graphite, natural (respirable fraction)
Graphite, synthetic (total dust)
Graphite, synthetic (respirable fraction)
Iron oxide fume (as Fe2O3)
Kaolin (total dust)
Kaolin (respirable fraction)
Magnesite (total dust)
Magnesite (respirable fraction)*
Mica (< 1% crystalline silica)
Rouge (total dust)
Rouge (respirable fraction)
Silica, amorphous, diatomaceous earth (<1% crystalline silica)
Silica, respirable cristobalite
Silica, respirable tridymite
Silica, fused (respirable fraction)
Talc (containing no asbestos)
Talc, fibrous non‑tremolite
Tin, inorganic compounds, except oxide (as Sn)
Tin oxide (as Sn)
Titanium dioxide (total dust)
Tungsten and compounds (insoluble as W)
Welding fumes (total dust)

 

MSHA - Mine Safety and Health Administration
OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration

* No data reported for these agents in most recent provisional data.

** See Selected Limitations section.

The following documents were reviewed to identify pneumoconiotic agents: ACGIH® Documentation of TLV®s, 6th edition; Occupational Respiratory Diseases Report, NIOSH Pub. No. 86-102; The NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, NIOSH Pub No. 2005-149; and NIOSH Criteria Documents.
 

Table F-2. MSHA analytical methods for selected pneumoconiotic agents

Pneumoconiotic Agent Category
(as defined for
this report)

MSHA Agents in Category

MSHA Analytical Method

Asbestos

Asbestos, fibers > 5 µm in length (3MgO.2SiO2.2H2O)

NIOSH 7400

Coal Mine Dust

Respirable coal mine dust, <= 5% quartz

NIOSH 7603/MSHA P7

Quartz

Respirable coal mine dust, > 5% quartz 
Respirable dust, > 1% quartz
Nuisance dust (respirable fraction), < 1% quartz**
Unlisted particulate (respirable fraction), < 1%  quartz**
Respirable dust (not analyzed or below detection limit)**

MSHA coal:  MSHA P7/NIOSH 7300
MSHA metal/nonmetal:  MSHA P2/NIOSH 7500

Selected Pneumoconiotic Agents

Aluminum oxide dust (as Al2O3)
Aluminum oxide fume (as Al2O3)
Beryllium dusts (as Be)
Beryllium fumes (as Be)
Cobaltdusts (as Co)
Cobalt fumes (as Co)
Iron oxide fume (as Fe2O3)
Titanium dioxide dust (as TiO2)
Titanium dioxide fume (as TiO2)

OSHA 121/125

Cristobalite (respirable fraction)

MSHA P2/NIOSH 7500

Welding fumes (total dust)

OSHA 121/125

Talc, nonfibrous, < 1% quartz

NIOSH 0600 (gravimetric)/MSHA P8 (impinger)

 
MSHA - Mine Safety and Health Administration
OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Table F-3. Most commonly used OSHA analytical methods for selected pneumoconiotic agents

Pneumoconiotic Agent Category
(as defined for
this report)

OSHA Agents in Category

OSHA Compliance Analytical Method
(SLCTC)

OSHA Consultation
Analytical Method

(WOHL)

Asbestos

Asbestos [actinolite, anthophyllite, chrysotile,
crocidolite, tremolite]
Talc containing fibrous tremolite

ID-160

WOHL method (based on NIOSH 7400 and OSHA ID-160)

Cotton Dust

Cotton dust (raw)

1910.1043 - Appendix A; SOP for nuisance dust

WW001.6.0 (5um PVC filter)

Quartz

Respirable crystalline silica (as quartz)
Respirable crystalline silica/tripoli (as quartz)
Respirable coal dust, > 5% quartz

ID-142

WOHL method (based on NIOSH 7500 and OSHA ID-142)

Selected Pneumoconiotic Agents

Alpha-alumina (total dust)
Aluminum oxide
Antimony and compounds (as Sb)
Beryllium and compounds (as Be)
Cobalt, metal, fume and dust (as Co)
Iron oxide fume (as Fe)
Tin (Inorganic Compounds, Except oxide as
Sn)

ID-125G

WW001.3.1

Silica, respirable crystalline cristobalite

ID-142

WOHL method (based on NIOSH 7500 and OSHA ID-142)

Carbon black

ID-196

WC019cb.4.0

Welding fumes (total particulate)

SOP for nuisance dust

WW001.6.0 (5um PVC filter)


OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration
SLCTC - Salt Lake City Technical Center WOHL - Wisconsin Occupational Health Laboratory


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Page last modified: June 23, 2008
Page last reviewed: June 23, 2008
Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)