Utilization of calcite for the reduction of coal mine dust toxicity

利用方解石降低煤矿粉尘毒性

• 批准号: 7863384
• 负责人: XI HUANG
• 金额: $ 29.52万
• 依托单位: NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-09-15 至 2011-09-14
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7863384
• 关键词: Utilization; calcite; reduction; coal; mine

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In the coal industry, calcite (CaCO3) is widely used to prevent explosions, treat acid mine drainage, and absorb acid rain components such as sulfur dioxide released during combustion. We have previously shown that prevalence of occupational lung diseases in coal workers correlates positively with levels of bioavailable iron (BAI) in coals with a decreasing incidence from eastern to western coalmine regions in the U.S. Calcite is commonly present in relatively large amounts in western coals such as those from Utah and Colorado coalmine regions. Calcite prevents iron from becoming bioavailable, and the coals from these coalmine regions are less toxic than eastern coals such as those from Virginia and Kentucky, which contain high levels of BAI and little calcite. Yet, the introduction of calcite as a protective agent in coals containing high BAI has not been investigated. In the present study, we hypothesize that when exposure to coal dust is unavoidable and the ability of technology to further reduce dust levels is limited, calcite is effective in disease prevention. The goals of the present study are to determine the utility of calcite to reduce coal dust toxicity and to develop and transfer technologies for the prevention of occupational lung disease in coal workers. These goals will be simultaneously achieved through multidisciplinary collaboration of Investigators from environmental medicine, mining and engineering, as well as geology. In Aim 1, we will determine the minimal effective doses of calcite in inhibiting BAI-containing coal-induced inflammation in mice. In Aim 2, we will present this novel preventive strategy to our Advisory Committee, which will assist in educating miners, operators, inspectors and regulators, and facilitating technology transfer. In Aim 3, we will develop technologies and conduct field tests for introduction of minimal effective dose of calcite to high BAI-containing coal dust. To ensure a timely technology transfer, in Aim 4, the most promising technologies identified by the present study will be recommended soon after they pass their underground practicality and feasibility tests. We expect to show that introduction of small amounts of calcite to respirable coal is cost-effective and causes no harm. This innovative dust mitigation strategy to reduce dust toxicity does not require sophisticated engineering breakthrough and could prevent occupational lung diseases in underground coal workers.

描述（由申请人提供）： 在煤炭工业中，方解石（CaCO3）被广泛用于防止爆炸，处理酸性矿井排水，并吸收燃烧过程中释放的二氧化硫等酸雨成分。我们以前已经表明，煤炭工人的职业性肺部疾病的患病率与煤中的生物可利用铁（BAI）水平呈正相关，在美国东部到西部煤矿区的发病率逐渐降低。方解石通常存在于西部煤炭中，例如来自犹他州和科罗拉多煤矿区的相对大量的方解石。方解石阻止铁成为生物可利用的，并且来自这些煤矿区的煤比来自弗吉尼亚州和肯塔基州的东部煤毒性小，这些煤含有高水平的BAI和少量方解石。然而，尚未研究在含有高BAI的煤中引入方解石作为保护剂。在本研究中，我们假设，当暴露于煤尘是不可避免的，技术的能力，以进一步降低粉尘水平是有限的，方解石是有效的疾病预防。本研究的目的是确定方解石的效用，以减少煤尘的毒性，并开发和转让技术，预防职业性肺病的煤炭工人。这些目标将通过来自环境医学，采矿和工程以及地质学的调查人员的多学科合作同时实现。在目标1中，我们将确定方解石抑制含BAI煤诱导的小鼠炎症的最小有效剂量。在目标2中，我们将向我们的咨询委员会介绍这一新的预防战略，该委员会将协助教育矿工、操作员、检查员和监管人员，并促进技术转让。在目标3中，我们将开发技术并进行现场试验，以将最小有效剂量的方解石引入含高BAI的煤尘中。为了确保及时进行技术转让，在目标4中，本研究确定的最有前途的技术将在通过地下实用性和可行性测试后不久予以推荐。我们希望表明，在可吸入煤中引入少量方解石是具有成本效益的，不会造成伤害。这种创新的粉尘缓解策略，以减少粉尘毒性，不需要复杂的工程突破，并可以预防职业性肺病的地下煤炭工人。