Work-Related Lung Disease (WoRLD) Surveillance System

Respirable coal mine dust: Number of samples, geometric mean exposures, and percent exceeding designated occupational exposure limits by industry, MSHA inspector and mine operator and OSHA samples, 1995–2003

CIC - Census Industry Code PEL - permissible exposure limit REL - recommended exposure limit GM - geometric mean mg/m3 - milligrams per cubic meterMRE - Mining Research EstablishmentMSHA - Mine Safety and Health AdministrationOSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration * includes industries with no samples exceeding the REL or industries with less than 10 samples.

Note:  In coal mining, for respirable dust containing less than or equal to 5% quartz, the MSHA PEL is 2 mg/m3 MRE; for respirable dust containing greater than 5% quartz, the MSHA PEL is [(10 mg/m3 MRE) / (% quartz)]. The NIOSH REL of 1 mg/m3 MRE for respirable coal mine dust was adopted in September of 1995. Geometric means are reported in MRE equivalent. All samples are compared to the MSHA PEL of 2 mg/m3 MRE for respirable coal mine dust containing less than or equal to 5% quartz, regardless of actual quartz content. See appendices for source description, methods, and industry codes.

Source:  MSHA coal mine inspector and mine operator dust data. OSHA Integrated Management Information System.

Archived Versions:

2002T02-15