Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of Gravimetric Sampler Bias, Effect on Measured Concentration, and Proposal for the Use of Harmonised Performance Based Dust Sampler for Exposure Assessment

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Proceedings of the 11th International Mine Ventilation Congress

  • 889 Accesses

Abstract

The last three years has brought about alarming news of re-identification of coal worker’s pneumoconiosis (CWP) or ‘black lung” in Australia after reporting nearly being absent for over five decades. While, the CWP statistics in South Africa (SA) are unverifiable, but certainly CWP has not been eliminated. These events have re-kindled the need for better understanding of the dust monitoring, performance of sampling devices, and compliance determination. Over the last half century, gravimetric sampling has been the fundamental means for dust exposure monitoring using recognised respirable size-selective standards. In both South Africa and Australia, the gravimetric sampling technique in coal mines has been followed since 1988 and 1983 respectively using samplers of original Higgins-Dewell (HD) type design. This paper provides the evaluation results of currently used South African and Australian gravimetric samplers compared against the original UK SIMPEDS ‘true reference’ sampler. The results consistently suggested that the South African and Australian cyclones do not conform to the required size selective curve or even the ‘true’ reference sampler. The results show that the currently used SA and Australian samplers showed a D50 sampling bias as high as 59 and 47% respectively against the size-selective curve. Similarly, under the controlled laboratory coal dust test conditions measuring the same coal mine dust level in a chamber, the South African, Australian and UK standard SIMPEDS sampler were 7.87, 9.79 and 6.71 mg/m3 respectively, which aligned with the sampling bias. The differences can in part be attributed to the ‘un-auditable’ inherent design and manufacturing quality, or unverifiable data on size-selective sampling curve. This finding has significant implications towards exposure data collected over the last 25 years and their subsequent use in the arrival of the dose-response curves. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that the harmonised use of ‘true reference’ SIMPEDS cyclone that meets the ISO (1995) criteria uniformly across the industry would benefit the exposure assessment and compliance determination.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Orenstein, A.J.: Proceedings of the 1959 Pneumoconiosis Conference, Johannesburg. Churchill, London, UK (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  2. BMRC: British Medical Research Council Report, UK (1952)

    Google Scholar 

  3. International Standards Organization (ISO): Air Quality: Particle Size Fraction Definitions for Health-Related Sampling. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland ISO 7708:1995 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Soderholm, S.C.: Proposed international conventions for particle size-selective sampling. Ann. Occup. Hyg. 33(3), 301–320 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Soderholm, S.C.: Why change ACGIH’s definition of respirable dust. Appl. Occup. Environ. Hyg. 6(4), 248–250 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH): Particle Size-Selective Sampling in the Workplace. ACGIH, Cincinnati, OH, USA (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  7. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH): Particle size-selective sampling for particulate air contaminants. In: Vincent, J.H. (ed.) ACGIH, Cincinnati, OH, USA (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Comite´ Europe´en de Normalisation (CEN): Workplace Atmospheres: Size Fraction Definitions for Measurement of Airborne Particles in the Workplace. European Standard EN 481:1993E, CEN, European Committee for Standardization, rue de Stassart 36, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  9. NIOSH: Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 95–106 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Health and Safety Executive (HSE): MDHS 14/3 General Methods for Sampling and Gravimetric Analysis of Respirable and Inhalable Dust, Methods for the Determination of Hazard Substances. HSE Books, London (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kenny, L., Bristow, S., Ogden, T.: Strategy and Time table for the Adoption of the CEN/ISO Sampling Conventions in the UK. AIHCE, Philadelphia (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Belle, B.: International harmonisation sampling curve (ISO/CEN/ACGIH): background and its influence on dust measurement and exposure assessment in South African mining industry. J. Mine Vent. Soc. S Afr. 2004, 56–58 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Lidén, G., Kenny, L.C.: Comparison of measured respirable dust sampler penetration curves with sampling conventions. Ann. Occup. Hyg. 35, 485–504 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kenny, L.C., Gussman, R.A.: Characterization and modelling of a family of cyclone aerosol pre-separators. J. Aerosol Sci. 28, 677–688 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Gudmundsson, A., Lidén, G.: Determination of cyclone model variability using a time-of-flight instrument. Aerosol Sci. Technol. 28(3), 197–214 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Görner, P., Wrobel, R., Micka, V., Skoda, V., Denis, J., Fabries, J.: Study of fifteen respirable aerosol samplers used in occupational hygiene. Ann. Occup. Hyg. 45(1), 43–54 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Jacobsen, M., Lamonica, J.A.: Personal Respirable Dust Sampler. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, Washington DC, IC8458 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Lippmann, M., Harris, W.B.: Size-selective sampler for estimating respirable dust concentrations. Health Phys. 8, 155–163 (1962)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Caplan, K.J., Doemeny, L.J., Sorensen, S.D.: Performance characteristics of the 10 mm cyclone respirable mass sampler. Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 38(2), 83–95 (1977)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Higgins, R.I., Dewell, P.: A gravimteric size-selecting personal sampler. In: Davies, C.N. (ed.) Inhaled Particles and Vapours II, pp. 575–586. Pergamon Press, Oxford (1967)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  21. Harris, G.W., Maguire, B.A.: A gravimetric dust sampling instrument (SIMPEDS): preliminary results. Ann. Occup. Hyg. 11, 195–201 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Maguire, B.A., Barker, D., Badel, D.A.: SIMPEDS 70: an improved version of the SIMPEDS personal gravimetric sampling instrument. In: Walton, W.H. (ed.) Inhaled Particles III, pp. 1053–1056. Unwin, Old Woking (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Maguire, B.A., Barker, D., Wake, D.: Size-selection characteristic of the cyclone used in the SIMPEDS 70 MK2 gravimetric dust sampler. Staub 33(3), 95–98 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Gwatkin, G., Ogden, T.L.: The SIMPEDS Respirable Dust Sampler-Side-by-Side Comparison with The 113A, Colliery Guardian (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Ogden, T.L., Barker, D., Clayton, M.P.: Flow-dependence of the Casella respirable-dust cyclone. Ann. Occup. Hyg. 27, 261–271 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Blackford, D.B., Harris, G.W., Revell, G.: The reduction of dust losses within the cassette of the SIMPEDS personal dust sampler. Ann. Occup. Hyg. 29(2), 169–180 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Maynard, A.D., Kenny, L.C.: Performance assessment of three personal cyclone models, using an aerodynamic particle sizer. J. Aerosol Sci. 26(4), 671–684 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Lidén, G., Kenny, L.C.: Optimisation of the performance of existing respirable dust samplers. App. Occup. Environ. Hyg. 8, 386–391 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. DME (Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs (DME) document): Guidelines for the Gravimetric Sampling of Respirable Airborne Dust Concentrations in Coal Mines, 1st edn, p. 16. GME 16/3/2/3/2, South Africa

    Google Scholar 

  30. Grabe, F.H.: Instruments Acceptable as Gravimetric Samplers, AQS 96, AQS 2/17, COM Air Quality Research, South Africa, p. 3 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Schroder, H.H.E.: A Note on Dust Measurements in Coal Mines, p. 8. South Africa (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Lamprecht, A., Rowe, D.: Note on the Evaluation and Approval of Gravimetric Sampling Instruments: Gilian GX-37 Cyclone, Gilian GX-25 Cyclone and the Gilian GX-R25 mm Cyclone Versus the GME Reference Instrument MRE 113A, GME 16/3/2/8, p. 15. South Africa (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Kenny, L., Baldwin, P.E.J., Maynard, A.D.: Respirable Dust Sampling at Very High Concentrations. HSE, UK (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Görner, P.: Personal Communications. France (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Kenny, L.: Personal Communications. UK (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Belle, B., Du Plessis, J.J.L.: Summary Report on Underground Mechanical Miner Environmental Control. CSIR-Miningtek, SIMRAC, ESH 98-0249, South Africa (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  37. AS 2985-1987: Workplace Atmospheres-Method for Sampling and Gravimetric Determination of Respirable Dust, September 1987

    Google Scholar 

  38. AS 2985-2004: Workplace Atmospheres-method for Sampling and Gravimetric Determination of respirable Dust (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  39. AS 2985-2009: Workplace Atmospheres-method for Sampling and Gravimetric Determination of Respirable Dust (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  40. HSE: Testing the Performance of Personal Cyclone Samplers, CBRU/2016/093. In: Thorpe, A. (ed.) Internal Confidential Report, UK, p. 29 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Kenny, L.C., Liden, G.: A technique for assessing size selective dust samplers using the APS and polydisperse test aerosols. J. Aerosol Sci. 22, 91–100 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. BS EN 481: Workplace Atmospheres: Size Fraction Definitions for Measurement of Airborne Particles in the Workplace. Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN) standard EN 481 (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  43. BS EN 13205-2: Workplace Exposure—Assessment of Sampler Performance for Measurement of Airborne Particle Concentrations. Part 2: Laboratory Performance Test Based on Determination of Sampling Efficiency (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Belle, B.: Pairwise evaluation of PDM3700 and traditional gravimetric sampler for personal dust exposure assessment. In: Mine Ventilation Conference, Brisbane, 28–30 Aug 2017, Australia, AusIMM Publication Series No 4/2017, ISBN 978-1-925100-61-7 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank J. Volkwein (USA) and E. Cauda (NIOSH, USA) for their constructive comments and encouraging remarks. Also, appreciates Mr. A. Thorpe (HSE, UK) who carried out the experimental work and an opportunity to witness the cyclone evaluations, L. Kenny (UK) and P. Gorner (France) for technical exchanges on laboratory work. Also acknowledge Andrew Thomson (SA) for providing the currently used SA samplers for evaluations. The views expressed herein are of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anglo American Coal, Brisbane City, Australia

    B. Belle

  2. UNSW, Sydney, Australia

    B. Belle

Authors
  1. B. Belle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. Belle .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China

    Xintan Chang

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Science Press and Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Belle, B. (2019). Evaluation of Gravimetric Sampler Bias, Effect on Measured Concentration, and Proposal for the Use of Harmonised Performance Based Dust Sampler for Exposure Assessment. In: Chang, X. (eds) Proceedings of the 11th International Mine Ventilation Congress. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1420-9_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation