Last data update: May 06, 2024. (Total: 46732 publications since 2009)
Records 1-8 (of 8 Records) |
Query Trace: Noll JD[original query] |
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High-sensitivity cassette for reducing limit of detection for diesel particulate matter sampling
Noll JD , Bugarski A , Vanderslice S , Hummer J . Environ Monit Assess 2020 192 (6) 333 NIOSH researchers designed a high-sensitivity (HS) cassette to improve the limit of detection of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) method 5040 and the Airtec near real-time diesel particulate matter (DPM) monitor. This was achieved by reducing the size of the diesel particulate matter deposition spot from 8.0 cm(2) (NIOSH method 5040 mining samples) and 7.6 cm(2) (Airtec samples) to 0.5 cm(2). When compared with the standard cassette, the new high-sensitivity cassette improves the limit of detection of NIOSH method 5040 by approximately five times, and the differences between the elemental carbon results from the HS cassette and the standard three-piece cassette were within statistical error. The limit of detection for Airtec measurements improved by approximately 15 times, and the elemental carbon results with the HS cassette between the Airtec and NIOSH method 5040 were within statistical agreement. When used in the Airtec monitor, the high-sensitivity cassette showed promise for measuring short-duration spot checks of ambient concentrations but was limited when performing some long-term sampling due to the resultant loss of dynamic range. Only up to 7 mug of elemental carbon was collected onto the HS cassette before the increase in pump backpressure caused the flow fluctuations to exceed targeted values by unacceptable levels. The HS cassette shows promise for effective engineering evaluations of control technologies and strategies and near real-time diesel particulate matter measurements for a variety of occupations. |
A method for estimating the low frequency coupling characteristics of a ferrite-cored rod antenna to a long conductor
Li J , Carr JL , Zhou CJ , Reyes MA , Noll JD . Prog Electromagn Res M Pier M 2018 75 193-203 Magnetic proximity detection systems (PDSs) used in underground mines occasionally generate false alarms when the miner-wearable component (MWC) is close to nearby conductors such as power cables. This is because the signals from the generators (antennas) of the PDS wirelessly couple to nearby cables, travel along these cables, and then couple back from the cable to a distant MWC to cause a false alarm. In order to manage such a false alarm, it is necessary to understand the basic near-field coupling characteristics from a generator to a long wire. Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have developed a method to measure such coupling characteristics for a ferrite-cored antenna to a straight wire. The method is introduced in this paper along with the test results. |
Comparison of MERV 16 and HEPA filters for cab filtration of underground mining equipment
Cecala AB , Organiscak JA , Noll JD , Zimmer JA . Min Eng 2016 68 (8) 50-58 Significant strides have been made in optimizing the design of filtration and pressurization systems used on the enclosed cabs of mobile mining equipment to reduce respirable dust and provide the best air quality to the equipment operators. Considering all of the advances made in this area, one aspect that still needed to be evaluated was a comparison of the efficiencies of the different filters used in these systems. As high-efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) filters provide the highest filtering efficiency, the general assumption would be that they would also provide the greatest level of protection to workers. Researchers for the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) speculated, based upon a previous laboratory study, that filters with minimum efficiency reporting value, or MERV rating, of 16 may be a more appropriate choice than HEPA filters in most cases for the mining industry. A study was therefore performed comparing HEPA and MERV 16 filters on two kinds of underground limestone mining equipment, a roof bolter and a face drill, to evaluate this theory. Testing showed that, at the 95-percent confidence level, there was no statistical difference between the efficiencies of the two types of filters on the two kinds of mining equipment. As the MERV 16 filters were less restrictive, provided greater airflow and cab pressurization, cost less and required less-frequent replacement than the HEPA filters, the MERV 16 filters were concluded to be the optimal choice for both the roof bolter and the face drill in this comparative-analysis case study. Another key finding of this study is the substantial improvement in the effectiveness of filtration and pressurization systems when using a final filter design. |
Investigation of induced recirculation during planned ventilation system maintenance
Pritchard CJ , Scott DF , Noll JD , Voss B , Leanis D . Min Eng 2014 66 (10) 43-48 The Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR) investigated ways to increase mine airflow to underground metal/nonmetal (M/NM) mine working areas to improve miners' health and safety. One of those areas is controlled recirculation. Because the quantity of mine air often cannot be increased, reusing part of the ventilating air can be an effective alternative, if implemented properly, until the capacity of the present system is improved. The additional airflow can be used to provide effective dilution of contaminants and higher flow velocities in the underground mine environment. Most applications of controlled recirculation involve taking a portion of the return air and passing it back into the intake to increase the air volume delivered to the desired work areas. OMSHR investigated a Nevada gold mine where shaft rehabilitation was in progress and one of the two main fans was shut down to allow reduced air velocity for safe shaft work. Underground booster fan operating pressures were kept constant to maintain airflow to work areas, inducing controlled recirculation in one work zone. Investigation into system behavior and the effects of recirculation on the working area during times of reduced primary ventilation system airflow would provide additional information on implementation of controlled recirculation into the system and how these events affect M/NM ventilation systems. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health monitored the ventilation district when both main fans were operating and another scenario with one of the units turned off for maintenance. Airflow and contaminants were measured to determine the exposure effects of induced recirculation on miner health. Surveys showed that 19% controlled recirculation created no change in the overall district airflow distribution and a small reduction in district fresh air intake. Total dust levels increased only modestly and respirable dust levels were also low. Diesel particulate matter (DPM) levels showed a high increase in district intake mass flow, but minor increases in exposure levels related to the recirculation percentage. Utilization of DPM mass flow rates allows input into ventilation modeling programs to better understand and plan for ventilation changes and district recirculation effects on miners' health. |
Evaluation of a wearable monitor for measuring real-time diesel particulate matter concentrations in several underground mines
Noll JD , Janisko S . J Occup Environ Hyg 2013 10 (12) 716-22 The standard method for determining diesel particulate matter (DPM) exposures in underground metal/nonmetal mines provides the average exposure concentration for an entire working shift, and it can take weeks to obtain results. This approach is problematic because, although it reports that an overexposure has occurred, it fails to provide critical information about cause or prevention. Conversely, real-time measurement would provide miners with timely information to identify the major factors contributing to overexposures and would allow engineering controls to be deployed immediately. Due to these potential benefits, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) developed a wearable instrument that measures real-time elemental carbon (EC) concentrations (EC is a DPM surrogate) via laser extinction. This instrument was later constructed into a commercial version (Airtec). This article evaluates the Airtec's performance in several underground metal/nonmetal mines by comparing it to the standard method for determining DPM exposures (NIOSH method 5040). The instrument was found to meet the NIOSH accuracy criteria and to show no statistical difference from NIOSH method 5040 results. In addition, the instrument's measurements were found to be unaffected by dust and humidity. |
Field assessment of enclosed cab filtration system performance using particle counting measurements
Organiscak JA , Cecala AB , Noll JD . J Occup Environ Hyg 2013 10 (9) 468-77 Enclosed cab filtration systems are typically used on mobile mining equipment to reduce miners' exposure to airborne dust generated during mining operations. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR) has recently worked with a mining equipment manufacturer to examine a new cab filtration system design for underground industrial minerals equipment. This cab filtration system uses a combination of three particulate filters to reduce equipment operators' exposure to dust and diesel particulates present in underground industrial mineral mines. NIOSH initially examined this cab filtration system using a two-instrument particle counting method at the equipment company's manufacturing shop facility to assess several alternative filters. This cab filtration system design was further studied on several pieces of equipment during a two- to seven-month period at two underground limestone mines. The two-instrument particle counting method was used outside the underground mine at the end of the production shifts to regularly test the cabs' long-term protection factor performance with particulates present in the ambient air. This particle counting method showed that three of the four cabs achieved protection factors greater than 1,000 during the field studies. The fourth cab did not perform at this level because it had a damaged filter in the system. The particle counting measurements of submicron particles present in the ambient air were shown to be a timely and useful quantification method in assessing cab performance during these field studies. |
Evaluating portable infrared spectrometers for measuring the silica content of coal dust
Miller AL , Drake PL , Murphy NC , Noll JD , Volkwein JC . J Environ Monit 2011 14 (1) 48-55 Miners face a variety of respiratory hazards while on the job, including exposure to silica dust which can lead to silicosis, a potentially fatal lung disease. Currently, field-collected filter samples of silica are sent for laboratory analysis and the results take weeks to be reported. Since the mining workplace is constantly moving into new and often different geological strata with changing silica levels, more timely data on silica levels in mining workplaces could help reduce exposures. Improvements in infrared (IR) spectroscopy open the prospect for end-of-shift silica measurements at mine sites. Two field-portable IR spectrometers were evaluated for their ability to quantify the mass of silica on filter samples loaded with known amounts of either silica or silica-bearing coal dust (silica content ranging from 10-200 mug/filter). Analyses included a scheme to correct for the presence of kaolin, which is a confounder for IR analysis of silica. IR measurements of the samples were compared to parallel measurements derived using the laboratory-based U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration P7 analytical method. Linear correlations between Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and P7 data yielded slopes in the range of 0.90-0.97 with minimal bias. Data from a variable filter array spectrometer did not correlate as well, mainly due to poor wavelength resolution compared to the FTIR instrument. This work has shown that FTIR spectrometry has the potential to reasonably estimate the silica exposure of miners if employed in an end-of-shift method. |
Aerosol sensing technologies in the mining industry
Janisko SJ , Noll JD , Cauda EE . Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng 2011 8029 80291E Recent health, safety and environmental regulations are causing an increased demand for monitoring of aerosols in the mining industry. Of particular concern are airborne concentrations of combustible and toxic rock dusts as well as particulate matter generated from diesel engines in underground mines. In response, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has been evaluating a number of real time sensing technologies for potential use in underground mines. In particular, extensive evaluation has been done on filter-based light extinction using elemental carbon (EC) as a surrogate measurement of total diesel particulate matter (DPM) mass concentration as well as mechanical tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) technology for measurement of both DPM and rock dust mass concentrations. Although these technologies are promising in their ability to accurately measure mine aerosols for their respective applications, there are opportunities for design improvements or alternative technologies that may significantly enhance the monitoring of mine aerosols. Such alterations can lead to increases in sensitivity or a reduction in the size and cost of these devices. This paper provides a brief overview of current practices and presents results of NIOSH research in this area. It concludes with a short discussion of future directions in mine aerosol sensing research. 2011 Copyright Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). |
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