Agent Name |
Coal dusts |
Formula |
Varies |
Major Category |
Mineral Dusts |
Synonyms |
Anthracite coal dust; Bituminous coal dust; Lignite coal dust |
Category |
Fibrogenic Dusts |
Description |
Dark-brown to black solid dispersed in air; |
Sources/Uses |
Most common exposures: underground mines; Also exposed are workers handling and transporting coal, e.g., trimming or leveling coal in ships; [Levy, p. 565] |
Comments |
Chronic exposure to coal dust can cause bronchitis and coal workers' pneumoconiosis. |
Exposure Assessment |
Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
No |
Bioaccumulates |
Yes |
TLV (ACGIH) |
0.4 mg/m3, respirable fraction(anthracite), 0.9 mg/m3, respirable fraction(bituminous) |
PEL (OSHA) |
2.4 mg/m3, <5% SiO2, resp. quartz fract., 10 mg/m3/%SiO2+2,> or equal to 5% SiO2, resp. quartz fract. |
Adverse Effects |
Fibrogenic |
Yes |
Chronic Bronchitis |
Yes |
IARC Carcinogen |
Not Classifiable |
Links to Other NLM Databases |
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