Field evaluation of pm₁₀detectors in a quarry environment

Abstract

This study is aimed to test and compare two different devices and methods to assess PM 10 concentration at workplace. An analysis of data collected by Public Administration database on the main nuisance factors at workplaces revealed that in quarrying activities, PM 10 concentration and airborne dust, in general, represent one of the most relevant hazards. Therefore, to provide a useful stress test for sampling devices, the location selected was a basalt quarry near Rome. Airborne dust tends to be unavoidable in quarries, as this industry necessarily causes ground disturbance. Drilling, blasting, loading, hauling, moving, crushing and screening rocks, as well as transporting the final product away from the quarry, are all dusty activities.To investigate this phenomenon, we carried out many outdoor sampling campaigns under various meteorological conditions during the period of 2012-2013. In each of them, two simultaneous samples were taken to assess PM 10 airborne concentration: from one hand, a traditional device for long-term sampling (gravimetric analysis) was employed, while on the other one, a photometric aerosol detection technology developed with a real-time dust monitor was tested. The comparison of collected data revealed that optical readings, if not supported with a specific calibration against physical properties of the dust being measured, may overestimate PM 10 concentration. In the second period of sampling campaign (2013), the calibration was realized taking into account particle size distribution and density and the samples were collected again. The following analysis showed an improvement in the correlation factor R 2 by more than 20%. This result demonstrates that photometric aerosol detection technology using a nephelometer should be considered suitable for monitoring PM 10 in dusty workplaces such as quarries or mines, especially when supported by a gravimetric sample to calibrate the optical device itself. This integrated approach seems to be the best option to reduce sampling time without reducing accuracy responses.

Detecting seismic waves induced by blast operations at a limestone quarry by means of different transducer mounting

“…In order to test the differences between the two sets of values and hence the two methodologies, the same technique often utilized to assess differences between different sampling devices [28,29] is adopted. So a correlation analysis is presented, a Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (PPMCC) is evaluated and a linear regression is modelled according to the expression shown in the following figure where results are presented.…”

Landscape changes due to quarrying activities as a project parameter for urban planning

“…Among the physical agents, noise [4] and vibrations are particularly relevant, and their effects have been studied by the scientific community using several different methodologies [5][6][7]. With regard to atmospheric emissions on the other hand, airborne particulates [8][9][10][11][12][13] are the main pollutants. In this context, visual impact is an important aspect since, in spite of any work to mitigate the effects on the terrain and to reclaim the land [14,15], it produces changes in the landscape which will nonetheless last for a rather long period of time [16,17].…”