Physico-chemical characteristics and toxicity of coal mine and artificial stone particulates

Identifying factors critical to the pathogenesis and severity of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis and silicosis.

This three-year project aims to investigate the physico-chemical and toxicological properties of different types of occupational dusts. The project has several objectives, including collecting bulk-material samples of coal and AS, assessing the physico-chemical methods of analysis, producing reports on the physico-chemistry of occupational dusts and their comparative toxicity, and examining the occupational exposure to harmful dusts in the Qld coal mining and AS workplaces.

The project will produce scientific reports that identify the varying reactivity, oxidant production, size, composition, and other relevant properties of a range of occupational dusts produced under controlled conditions. These reports will be drafted in consultation with all project partners before being circulated to industry, union, and regulatory bodies for input. They will provide a detailed examination of the hazards posed by different occupational dusts associated with various work tasks.

In addition to its value for Australian governmental regulatory agencies, the project's findings will also be widely distributed through industry, unions, and medical forums. The project will ultimately contribute to the development of better strategies for controlling dust exposure and preventing related illnesses, benefiting both workers and industry alike.