Work-Related Lung Disease (WoRLD) Surveillance System

Table 3-17. Respirable quartz: Number of samples, geometric mean exposures, and percent exceeding designated occupational exposure limits by industry, MSHA inspector and mine operator and OSHA samples, 1993–2003

CIC - Census Industry CodePEL - permissible exposure limitREL - recommended exposure limitGM - geometric meanmg/m³ - milligrams per cubic meterMRE - Mining Research Establishment n.e.c. - not elsewhere classifiedMSHA - 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.
† Geometric mean reported in mg/m³ MRE. Samples selected based on the respirable dust level and MSHA PEL (2 mg/m³ MRE or adjusted PEL).
‡ The MSHA respirable coal mine quartz exposure data and the NIOSH REL for respirable quartz cannot be compared to each other because they are based on different sampling criteria.

Note:  Before March 1, 1989 and after March 22, 1993, the OSHA PEL is [(10 mg/m3) /(% quartz + 2)], for respirable dust containing at least 1 percent quartz. From March 1, 1989 to March 22, 1993, the OSHA PEL was 0.1 mg/m3 for respirable quartz. For coal minin

Source:  MSHA metal/nonmetal and coal mine inspector and mine operator quartz data. OSHA Integrated Management Information System.

Archived Versions:

2002T03-17