Feasibility study of portable sampling techniques for combustion related airborne particulates in a platinum mine

Hazardous compounds such as airborne particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and black carbon (BC) require special attention. The toxicological effects caused by the inhalation of such substances depend mainly on the concentration of each health relevant compound inhaled. In this feasibility study, portable aerosol samplers were utilised for the first time together with portable Aethalometers in different areas of a South African underground platinum mi-ne. The preliminary results showed the highest mean toxicity equivalent (TEQ) values from 3.2 to 3.9 ng m-3 in the mecha-nised mining areas, indicating the largest extent of diesel exhaust emissions at those sampling sites. Furthermore, very high mean equivalent black carbon (eBC) concentrations from 264 to 1 439 µg m-3 were found in the same areas and give therefore, a cause of concern regarding occupational health aspects. In summary, both, the aerosol samplers and the Aethalometers delivered valuable data regarding the occupational exposure to airborne pollutants originating from combustion sources in mining activities. For such mining activities, the exposure to eBC was shown to be of greater concern than the exposure to PAHs.