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Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance System (eWoRLD)

Silicosis: Respirable Quartz Exposures (Archive)

Respirable quartz: Geometric mean coal mining exposures by state, MSHA inspector and mine operator samples, 1982-1999
Figure showing Respirable quartz: Geometric mean coal mining exposures by state, MSHA inspector and mine operator samples, 1982-1999

PEL - permissible exposure limitREL - recommended exposure limitmg/m3 - milligrams per cubic meter
MRE - Mining Research Establishment, no comparabl

Note:  For coal mining, the MSHA PEL is [(10 mg/m3 MRE) / (% quartz)] for respirable dust containing greater than 5 percent quartz. 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. See appendices for source description, methods, and agents.

Source:  Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) coal mine inspector and operator quartz data.

Reference Number: 2002F03-07

Date Posted: May 2003

Most Recent Version:
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