An investigation of chemical compositions, mineralogy, morphology and concentration measurement of diffused aerosols in digging tunnels of underground uranium mine in Saghand area

Naeimi, Mojtaba; Razmara, Morteza; Khoshnodi, Khalegh

An investigation of chemical compositions, mineralogy, morphology and concentration measurement of diffused aerosols in digging tunnels of underground uranium mine in Saghand area

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Mojtaba Naeimi

Morteza Razmara

Khalegh Khoshnodi

Abstract

Electron microscopy studies (EPMA- WDS and SEM- EDS) provided detailed information about the morphology, source, transport, diffusion, properties, transformation reactions and environmental impacts of aerosol particles in digging tunnels of underground uranium mine in Saghand area. The size, aspect ratio and chemical composition of particles were studied by SEM-EDS but the mineralogical phase compositions of the particles were investigated by EPMA. EPMA analysis indicated that particulate matters (PM) were mainly composed of irregularly shaped mineral particles. Analysis of 46 individual particles showed that all particles were mineral aggregates and some of them contained sulfur. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the main minerals were clay minerals, iron oxides, amorphous materials, quartz, calcite, pyrite and hornblende. Clay minerals were to the greatest illite/smectite mixed layers and kaolinite and chlorite as secondary elements. The particulate matters collected during the drilling episodes were characterized by high quartz/clay ratio and dominance of illite/smectite mixed layers in clay minerals. The concentration ofdusts in different parts of digging tunnels, in poorly ventilated parts of the mine was below the OSHA standard. The existence of aerosols of uranium minerals plus quartz indicated that the personnel of the mine were exposed to serious health hazards unless they were equipped with suitable environmental filters.

Keywords

Aerosols

EPMA-WDS

Morphology

Particulate matters (PM)

Saghand uranium mine

[1] W. Birch, H. Datson, Reducing the environmental effect of aggregate quarrying: Dust, Noise and Vibration. In Sustainable aggregates, University of Leeds and University of Nottingham (2008).

[2] P.H. McMurry, A review of atmospheric aerosol measurements, Atmospheric Environment, 34 (2000) 1959-1999.

[3] R. Godoi, D. Braga, Y. Makarovska, B. Alfoldy, M. Carvalho Filho, R. Grieken, A. Godoi, Inhable particle matter from lime industries: Chemical composition and deposition in human respiratory tract, Atmospheric Environment, 42 (2008) 7027-7033.

[4] A. Zanobetti, J. Schwartz, D.W. Dockery, Airborne particles are a risk factor for hospital admissions for heart and lung disease, Environ. Health Perspect, 108 (2000) 1071-1077.

[5] R.D. Brook, B. Franklin, W. Cascio, Y. Hong, G. Haward, M. Lipsett, R. Luepker, M. Mittleman, J. Samet, S.C. Smith, I. Tager, Air pollution and cardiovascular disease: A Statement for Healthcare Professionals From Expert Panel on Population and Prevention Science of the American Heart Association, Circula, 21 (2004) 109.

[6] M.L. Maiello, M.D. Hoover, Radioactive air sampling methods, CRC Press, New York, (2011).

[7] I. Salma, I. Balashazy, R. Winkler-Heil, W. Hofmann, G. Zaray, Effect of particle mass size distribution on the deposition of aerosols in the human respiratory system, Aerosol Science. J. 33 (2002) 119-132.

[8] J.H. Vincent, The fate of inhaled aerosols: a review of observed trends and some generalizations, Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 34 (1990) 623-637.

[9] P. Hinz, A. Trimborn, E. Weingartner, S. Henning, U. Baltensperger, B. Spengler, Aerosol single particle composition at the Jungfraujoch, Aerosol Science, 36 (2005) 123-145.

[10] S. Yadav, V. Rajamany, Geochemistry of aerosol of northwestern part of india adjoining the thar desert, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 68 (9) (2004) 1975-1988.

[11] B. Alfoldy, J. Trincavelly, S. Torok, G. Castellano, Characterization of atmospheric particles by electron probe X-ray, 24 (2002) 297-300.
[12] M. Ebert, J. Dahmen, P. Hoffmann, H.M. Ortner, Examination of clean room aerosol particle composition by total reflection X-ray analysis and electron probe microanalysis, Spectrochimica Acta., Part B, 52 (1997) 967-975.

[13] G.S. Casuccio, S.F. Schlaegle, T.L. Lersch, G.P. Huffman, Y. Chen, N. Shah, Measurement of fine particulate matter using electron microscopy techniques, Fuel Processing Technology, 85 (2004) 763-779.

[14] M. Murakami, F. Nakajima, H. Furumai, B. Tomiyasu, M. Owari, Identification of particles containing chromium and lead in road dust and soakaway sediment by electron probe microanalyser, Chemosphere 67 (2007) 2000-2010.

[15] P. Khaenamkaw, P. Iamraksa, S. Raksawang, K. Wongsorndham, S. Khuntong, SEM/EDS morphological and chemical composition identification of particulate matter emission from shipping activities around Si Racha Bay, Si Chang Island, Chonburi, Thailand. Journal of the Microscopy Society of Thailand, 24 (2010) 37-41.

[16] A. Zarasavandi, F. Moore, A. Nazarpour, Mineralogy composition and morphological constituent particle of phenomenon of dust in Khoozestan province based on XRD analysis and SEM images, J. Crystallography and Mineralogy, 19(3) (2011) 511-518.

[17] P.J. Walsh, Radiation dose to the respiratory tract of uranium miners, Environmental Research, 3 (1970) 14-36.

[18] C. Papastefanou, Radioactive nuclides as tracers of environmental processes, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem, 267 (2) (2006) 315-320.

[19] A. Naghizadeh, A.H. Mahvi, H. Jabbari, A. Dadpour, M. Karimi, Determine the level of dust and free silica in air of Khaf iron stone quarries, Iran. J. Health & Environ, 1 (1) (2008) 37-44.

[20] A. Choobineh, F. Amirzadeh, SH. Arghami, Overview of occupational health, Shiraz university publication of medical science, Third edition (2003) 297.

[21] A. Shakoori, The final report on the uranium mineral reserve estimates, mineral zones 1 and 2 of Saqand uranium deposit (1993).