The impact of mining operations on the respiratory health of miners at the Anglogold Ashanti (Obuasi) Limited

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2005-11-09
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The adverse effects of underground gold mining on the respiratory health of the miners at AngloGold Ashanti (Obuasi) was assessed through structured questionnaires, Sputum analysis using the Ziel-Neelsen Staining method and Respirable dust levels on a personal basis for an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) using cyclone filter sampling method. Most of the miners who participated in the study were relatively young men with a mean age of 41.2 years (range 29 55). The mean length of service was 14.8 years (range 3 — 32). The most frequent respiratory symptom reported was Dyspnoea (shortness of breath)(67.0%), closely followed by phlegm (sputum) production in approximately half of the population and cough was the least reported symptom (28.5%-37.7%). Smoking was not popular among the miners only 7.5% were smokers and mostly young men between the ages of 20-35 years. Dyspnoea was the most frequently reported symptoms amongst the smokers (68%). Chronic bronchitis was found to occur in about one-third of the population but Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB) was not detected in the sputum samples analyzed, The mean 8-hour TWA of respirable dust was 0.40mg/rn3 and 60% exceeded the WHO Occupational Exposure Level (OEL) of 0.1mg/rn3- 0.2mg/rn3. Respirable dust exposure within most of the occupational groups was inordinately high since their mean TWAs were above the OEL. Supervisors and drillers were most at risk. The miners commonly used rags instead of prescribed respiratory equipment (RPE). These rags had no nominal protective factors hence; the effectiveness of exhaust ventilation remained the key to providing the mineworkers with protection against respirable dust exposure. This study has provided evidence that exposure to mine dust, at the levels of exposure observed, (mean TWA of O.4Omg/m3 and 60% exceedance of the WHO Occupational Exposure Limit) was associated with impairment of respiratory health. There was frequency in subjects reporting of work-related respiratory symptoms.
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A thesis report presented to the Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Science degree in Environmental Science, 2005
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