Laserfiche WebLink
HEALTH HAZARDS OF DUST <br />Dr. Frances P. Lazear <br />From a health standard point of view, dust is classified by size into three categories: respirable dust, inhalable <br />dust, and total. dust. Pathogenic effects of the dust vary with the size of the particle and content of the dust. <br />Respirable dust particles are approximately 5 microns or less. These particles penetrate into the gas exchange <br />region of the lungs and are permanently retained, gradually reducing lung function. If crystalline silica is present, <br />additional harmful effects occur. Dust containing crystalline silica is toxic and when retained in the lungs causes the <br />formation of scaz tissue, impairs the lungs' ability to function and eventually can result in cancer. This condition, <br />called silicosis, is progressive and irreversible. Damage starts with the first exposure to the silicates. <br />Individuals like Louan Lundberg will be especially intolerant of respirable dust. She suffered a serious case of <br />pulmonary embolism which has left her with partial lung function. She will be unable to tolerate any more lung <br />damage. <br />Inhalable dust has a median diameter of 10 microns. This size fiaction of dust is trapped in the nose, throat and <br />upper respiratory tract. In healthy individuals it is expelled by the body's natural clearance mechanisms. It may cause <br />irritation to the eyes and nasal passages. Individuals who have predisposing problems will suffer greater reactions. <br />R.E. Norton suffers chronic sinus problems, corneal damage, and impaired lung function due to long term <br />exposure to dust from his 40 years of working in quarries. This individual will experience immediate and potentially <br />life threatening effects from additional dust exposure. <br />Individuals with serious dust allergies, like Susan Ruiz and Audrey Amey, are intolerant of any size inhalable <br />dust, both from the mechanical irritation of the particles and from exposure to the pollen that it frequently contains. <br />Asthma sufferers, such as Jim Hudson, frequently suffer severe reactions to dust, resulting in increased <br />frequency of severe asthyma attacks, which may be fatal. <br />The five individuals mentioned all live within '/e mile of the proposed quarry site and will be put in significant <br />health danger should this quarry be permitted, unless it can be operated with absolutely no fugitive dust. The dust <br />must be completely contained during all phases of the quarry operation, and at all times of the day and night when the <br />quarry is not being operated, as dust from the exposed soils will become airborne from wind even when no machinery <br />is being operated. <br />Please note that the clays contained in the deposits to be mined are made up of very fine particles and can be <br />expected to produce a lazge amount of inhalable particles when disturbed during bulldozing, crushing and loading <br />operations. These smaller particles remain suspended longer than larger particles and can be expected to travel long <br />distances from the operation. Silicates are also relatively common in the clays of this deposit. <br />I do hope you will consider the health, safety and welfare of these individuals and deny the Benson quarry <br />pemut. At risk individuals endangered by the permitting of this quarry will have no recourse but to pursue litigation <br />against both the county and the quarry operator when dust exposure occurs. <br />References: <br />1. US Dept of Labor, OSHA, safety and health topics> mineral processing dust control> Dust Control Handbook > <br />Ch. 1 -dust and its control http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/silicacrvstalline/dust/chapter ].htm1 <br />2. Dust Measurement -Basic Information. FW Parrett Limited, 65 Riefield Rd, London, SE9 2RA, England. <br />http://www.parett.uk.com/dustmeas 1.htm <br />