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 industries with elevated coal workers’ pneumoconiosis mortality, MSHA inspector and mine operator samples, 1990–1999

- indicates incalculable field
CIC - Census Industry CodePEL - permissible exposure limitREL - recommended exposure limitGM - geometric meanmg/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 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 5% quartz, regardless of actual quartz content. See appendices for source description, methods, ICD codes, industry codes, agents, and list of selected states and years for which usual industry has been reported.

Source:  Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) coal mine inspector and mine operator dust data. National Center for Health Statistics multiple cause-of-death data.

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