MINE GASES

Atmospheric air and its composition

• The atmospheric air that we breath is a mixture of several gases.

• Its composition is practically constant over the whole surface of

the earth from the sea level up to an altitude of at least 25 km.
Typical analysis of dry atmospheric air is given as below:

Constituent % by volume

Oxygen 20.93
Nitrogen (including Ar and other rare inert gases 79.04 (78.10 N2 + 0.94% Ar)
Carbon dioxide 0.03

Ar, 0.94
O2, 20.93

N2, 78.1
• In addition to the above gases, the total amount of other gases is
less than 0.01%.

• In normal atmospheric air, moisture is also always present, from a

fraction of 1% up to a maximum of about 6%.
 MINE GASES

In addition to O2 and N2, the underground atmosphere

contains small amounts of other gases, namely,

– Methane (CH4),

– Carbon dioxide (CO2),

– Carbon monoxide (CO),

– Unburned hydrocarbons,
– Partially oxidised hydrocarbons (aldehydes),
– Ammonia,

– Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and

– Sulphur dioxide (SO2).

Composition of mine atmosphere

Analysis of air in the return airway of a gassy coal mine is generally

as follows:

Constituent % by volume
• Oxygen 20.28
• Nitrogen 78.90
• Carbon dioxide 0.36
• Methane 0.46

• It will be observed that return air is depleted in oxygen content

and contaminated by mine gases.

• Impurities comes from exhalation by men, blasting, underground

fires, burning of lights, bacterial action and gases given off from
strata.
 The foul or poisonous gases that pollute the air in coal mines are
called damp.

 Names commonly used in Indian coal mines are;

1. Blackdamp:

• It is a mechanical mixture of the extinctive gases, e. g. CO2 and

excess N2.

• CO2 may vary from 5-18% and rest is N2.

• Sometimes it is referred to as chokedamp or stythe.

2. Firedamp:
• It is a mechanical mixture of inflammable gases emitted naturally
from coal strata – mostly methane (CH4).

• Firedamp sometimes used synonymously with methane

3. Whitedamp:

• Mixture of CO and air.

• When a person dies his face becomes white and got its name as
white damp.

• It is used synonymous with CO.

4. Stinkdamp:

• Mixture of H2S and air.

• It is synonymous with sulphuretted hydrogen, H2S (Hydrogen

sulphide)
5. Afterdamp:

• A mechanical mixture of gases existing in a mine after an

explosion of firedamp or coal dust.

• Its composition is extremely variable but usually includes CO, CO2,

N2 and sometimes H2S, and SO2 with very small percentage of O2.

• Composition of afterdamp depends upon

•initial composition of the mine atmosphere before an explosion
and
•how the combustion has taken place.

• A common afterdamp mixture consists of

O2 - 5%
N2 - 80-85%
CH4 - 0.3 to 0.5%
CO - 4-12% (generally 10%)
 OXYGEN (O2)
Properties of O2

• Colourless, odourless and tasteless.

• Most abundant on earth.

• Slightly soluble in water: 3% by volume at 20oC, i. e.100 vol. of water

dissolving only 3 vol. of O2

• Its density is 1.428 kg/Nm3

• Slightly heavier than air: Specific gravity is 1.1, i.e. 1.1 times heavier than
air

• It supports life and combustion.

 Causes of O2 deficiency in mines

In mines, the O2 content in mine air decreases due to

• Breathing of men

• Burning of flame safety lamps

• Dilution of strata gases

• Oxidation of organic and inorganic substances e. g. coal, timber and pyrites

• Decay of timber by fungus growth

• Mine fire or explosion

• Appearance of other gases in higher concentrations e. g. CO and CH4.

 Table: O2 Consumption at different work situation

Nature of work O2 consumed in lt/min

Rest in bed 0.237 lt/min.

Rest standing 0.328 lt/min.

Walking at 3.2 Km/hr 0.780 lt/min.

Walking at 6.4 Km/hr 1.595 lt/min.

Walking at 8.1 Km/hr or doing 2.543 lt/min.

ordinary exercise
Extreme hard work 4.0 lt/min.
Requirements of O2 in mine air as per mining laws:

• In India: Minimum 19%

• In USA: Minimum 19.5%

• In USSR Minimum 20%

• Each 1% reduction in O2% results in about 30% less light from oil lamps.

• Flame safety lamps extinguishes when O2 content falls to about 16%.

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF O2 DEFICIENCY

• Fall of O2 from its usual level of 21% in the air to 18% does not represent
any danger to human life.

• Human beings can survive in an atmosphere containing as low as 15% O2.

• Canaries or small birds can survive if O2% is as low as 8% and therefore,

they are not good guides for sufficiency of O2 for human beings.
Physiological effects of an O2 deficient environment will vary from
individual to individual and with the length of exposure

Conc. of O2
Physiological effect
(% by volume)
17 Faster and deeper breathing
15 Dizziness, buzzing in ears and rapid heartbeat
13 May lose consciousness with prolonged exposure
9 Fainting, unconsciousness
7 Life endangered
6 Convulsive movements and death
 NITROGEN
Properties of N2

• Quite abundant in atmospheric air comprising about 4/5th of the atmosphere.

• Colourless, odourless and tasteless gas.

• It is nearly as heavy as air with Sp. Gravity 0.967.

• Practically insoluble in water: 100 vol. of water dissolving only 1.8 vol. of N2
at 15 0C.

• It is inert: Neither burns nor support life or combustion

• It is important for the growth of plant and animal tissues.

• It does not undergo any alteration in the process of breathing.

• Nitrogen is sometimes used for quenching underground fires.

Occurrences of N2

• Decomposition of organic substances

• Blasting with explosives – NG base

• No bad effect at high concentration – leads O2 deff. with consequent

physiological effect.
 CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)

Physical Properties:

• It is a colourless, odourless gas and bitter in test (slight acid taste).

• It is one and half time heavier than air and has sp. gr. of 1.52.

• Highly soluble in water: 100 vol. of water dissolves at 15 0C 100 vol. of CO2
forming a weak acid.

• It is not combustible and doesn't support life and combustion

• Small spaces in lungs absorb CO2 – CO2 in alveolar air is 5.6%. If it

increases to 5.8% then breathing is doubled.
Physiological effect of CO2

The effect is due to presence of CO2, which is accompanied by corresponding

depletion of O2.
% of CO2 (by vol.) Effect on man Effect on lamp

0.03% Normal Normal

0.5% Slight increase of depth and No effect

frequency of breathing
1% Much deeper breathing No effect

3% Breathing rate is doubled, It burns with difficulty

quick fatigue will result when
working
6% Violent panting, rapid Extinguished
exhaustion
10% Narcotic effect produced,  
unconsciousness if exposure
is prolonged
20% Death within a few hours  
Sources of CO2 in mines:
• Breathing of men (Avg. 50 litres per hour per worker).

• Burning of lamps (0.15 to 5 litres per minute per lamp).

• Decay of timbers.

• Slow oxidation of coal in coal mines (Spont. Combustion).

• Mine fires and explosions.

• Blasting.

• I.C. Engines e. g. diesel locomotives.

• Emission from strata gas outbursts in coal and potash mines.

• Action of acid water on carbonates rocks.

Areas in the mine where CO2 can be found:

• Dip side working at lower levels or layers

• Return air of the mine.

• Poorly ventilated areas.

• Sealed off areas of goaf.

Saturatory limit of CO2

• India: Should not be more than 0.5%

• U.K.: Should not be more than 0.2%

CARBON MONOXIDE
• CO is produced whenever carbon or carbonaceous matter is burnt with
insufficient supply of oxygen.
• It is the most dangerous gas encountered in coal and metal mines.

Properties of CO:

(1) It is a colourless, odourless, tasteless and non-irritating gas.

(2) It is slightly lighter than air (specific gravity : 0.967).
(3) It is combustible but does not support combustion.

(4) It burns in air at about 700°C with a light blue flame to CO2.

(5) It is hardly soluble in water: 100 vols. of water dissolves only 2.3 vols. of
gas at 20°C.
(6) It forms an explosive mixture with air when present within the range of
nearly 12 to 75% by vol.
OCCURRENCE:

The production of CO in a mine may be due to

1. Oxidation of coal and other carbonaceous matter:

• Incomplete oxidation may result in its formation

• Under normal mining conditions the percentage formed is negligible and

harmless in the return air of a coal mine.

2. Spontaneous combustion of coal:

• This is the main source of production of dangerous % of CO in a coal mine.

3. Active mine fire:

• Active fire in underground mine forms CO in dangerous %.

• Timber fires can also produce CO

4. Methane or coal dust explosion:

 • Gases produced by the explosions of CH4 and coal dust invariably contain
large % of CO which are responsible for deaths of victims.

• Coal dust explosions produce more CO.

5. Explosives/Blasting:

• Explosives contain the amount of O2 required for complete chemical reaction

but the chemical reaction when the explosive is blasted is seldom perfect and
this results in the formation of CO.

• If the explosive is not oxygen balanced it produces CO.

• CO production is less if the explosive is blasted in strong rock than in weak

rock

6. Underground machinery:
• Diesel equipments, air compressors, etc. when run faulty produce CO.

• Appreciable quantities of CO is produced in exhaust gas of internal

 PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CO

• CO is a very poisonous gas and commonly referred to as the ‘Silent Killer’.

• It often affects the victims in such a manner that they fail to recognize the
danger until it is too late.

• Its poisonous character is due to its great affinity for haemoglobin (oxygen-
carrier) of the blood.

• Its affinity for haemoglobin is 300 times that of O2.

• When CO reacts with haemoglobin it forms carboxyhaemoglobin (Hb.CO), a

stable bright pink compound.

• The reaction between O2, CO and haemoglobin is reversible and may be

represented as

HbO2 + CO = HbCO + O2
• The rate at which CO combines with the haemoglobin depends on the
– Exposure time
– CO-concentration, and
– The activity being performed.

• If CO present even in small quantities in the inhaled air, it is difficult for blood
to absorb proper quantity of O2 to support life because of formation of
carboxyhaemoglobin.

• Brain gets damaged when CO breathed for a sufficiently long time in large
quantities due to lack of O2.
 Effects of breathing air containing CO on human beings

% of CO in air Symptoms
0.02% Headache, discomfort and possibility of collapse after 45 minutes
at work or 2 hours at rest

0.12% Palpitation after 10 minutes at work or 30 minutes at rest

0.2% Unconsciousness after 10 minutes at work or 30 minutes at rest

0.5 to 1.0% Death after 10-15 minutes of work

The after effects of CO poisoning are headache, loss of strength, and

in some cases, even paralysis.
 Detection and Estimation of CO
The following methods are used for detection and estimation of CO in mine
atmospheres:

1. Using birds or mouse

– Exposing warm blooded birds or mice in cage to atmosphere

containing gases,

– Canaries are used in U.S.A. and Lal Muniahs in India.

– Bird is a better indicator than mouse

2. Using colorimetric indicating detectors

– Based on the change in colour of the chemicals used for detection due
to its reaction with CO

3. Using electronic measuring instruments (indicating and monitoring)

–
1. Using birds or mouse

• Warm blooded birds or mouse are commonly used as they are affected
much earlier than man by CO.

• On account of much faster breathing rates (about 20 times), the canaries

are affected more quickly by the gas than a human being and thus give a
warning signal for man to retreat to fresh air.

• Investigations carried out both in lab. and underground shown that at CO

conc. greater than 0.18%, canaries are three times more sensitive than
mice and 6 to 10 times more sensitive than man at rest.

• Such birds form the essential equipment of rescue team entering a mine
after explosion or fire.

• Birds are taken in small cages (2 or 3 per cage) to place where CO is

expected and their bahaviour observed.
Effect of CO on muniah birds

• With 0.15% of CO present in the air a bird shows distress (ruffing of

feathers, pronounced chirping and loss of liveliness) in 3 mts. and falls off its
perch in 18 mts.

• With 0.3% CO the bird shows almost immediate distress and falls off its
perch in 2-3 mts.

• Immediate signs of distress are not likely to be observed when exposed to

only 0.1% of CO, they are visible only when the conc. is more than 0.3%.

• Ordinary sparrows are not suitable for CO detection and in an atmosphere

containing CO to the extent of 1 to 2%, sparrows did not exhibit any sign of
distress until they were dead.

• For atmospheres containing more than 0.15% CO, a cage with munia birds
is a good indicator.
BURREL’S WORK :

Behaviour of Canaries exposed to CO

% CO Effect

0.09% Showed very slight distress after exposure for an hour

0.15% Distress after 3 min and fall from perch after 8 min.

0.2% They are distressed in one a half min and fall from the
perch after 5 min.
0.29% Fall from the perch in two and half minutes
SPENCER’S WORK:

• Canaries are useful when the CO concentration is more than 0.175%.

• Below the above concentration, canaries become less sensitive.

• Lowest concentration to make canaries insensitive is 0.125%, whereas,

man can become unconscious with as low a concentration as 0.04 –
0.05%.
 2. Using colorimetric indicating detectors
These detectors provide a rapid method of on-the-spot measurement of CO
concentration.

Principle

• CO colorimetric detectors are based on the chemical reaction of CO with

certain chemicals resulting in a change of colour.

• The chemicals are kept in detector tubes which are sealed at both the ends
and can be stored for 1-2 years.

• The seals are broken at site just before detection of gas percentage and the
tube inserted into an aspirator which draws in mine air.

• The air containing CO causes change in the colour of the chemicals in the
tube.
• Estimation of CO is done on the basis of
– matching changed colour with standard shades calibrated against the % of CO or
– noting the length of tube over which the change of colour has occurred.
Some of the detectors are
The P. S. detector:

• This is manufactured by Siebe Gorman and CO. Ltd., Britain.

• It consists of a glass tube containing silica gel impregnated with light

yellow potassium palladium sulphite with silica gel at both the ends to
absorb other gases.

• A fixed volume of air (120cm3) is drawn through the tube at a constant rate
over a period of 2 min. through a calibrated orifice by operating a rubber
aspirator.

• CO in the air turns light yellow colour of Potassium-Palladium sulphite

to brown.

• The length of colour change from one end of the tube indicates the
concentration of CO.

• The range of the instrument is 0.005-0.12% CO.

B. The Hopcalite detector:

• Manufactured by the Mine Safety Appliances Co. USA.

• This detector utilizes the heat generated on oxidation of CO to CO2.

• It consists of an analyzing cell containing hopcalite (a mixture of

manganese dioxide (MnO2) and copper oxide (CuO)).

• Air is drawn into the cell by a hand operated pump.

• CO in the air is catalytically oxidized to CO2 by Hopcalite and generates

heat.

• The rise in temp. so produced is recorded by a thermocouple connected in

series to a meter which is calibrated in the % of CO.

• The instrument can read from 0.005 to 0.015 % CO.

C. The Hoolamite tube:

• Glass tube filled with hoolamite which is a mixture of iodine pentoxide

(I2O5) and sulphuric acid (H2SO4).

• A tube containing activated charcoal introduced between intake and

hoolamite to prevent gases other than CO from reaching it.

• CO in the air due to reaction, reduces iodine pentoxide liberating iodine.

• The grayish white colour of the hoolamite in the tube turns green, brown
or black depending upon the concentration of CO.

• Concentration of CO is estimated by comparing the colour with a

standard colour chart provided with the instrument.
D. Carbon monoxide detector of M.S.A. Ltd.

• The detector consists of

– an aspirator
– a colour comparing scale/chart and
– CO detecting tubes
• The aspirator (60 cc capacity) allows the user to use a variable no. of
squeezes (1, 2 or 5), thereby enabling detection of CO conc. from as low as
10 ppm to as high as 1000 ppm by the colorimetric process.

• The tube contains yellow silica gel impregnated with palladium sulphate
(PdSO4) and ammonium molybdate, (NH4)2MoO4 and sealed at both the
ends.

• The sealed tips are broken at the spot of detection and inserted into the CO
detecting aspirator.

• As the aspirator bulb is squeezed, mine air is drawn into the tube through
glass fibre and silica gel at the end of the tube so as to absorb gases other
than CO.
• CO in air reacts with Ammonium Palladium Complex producing oxides,
predominantly that of molybdenum and thereby change the yellow
colour to shades of green depending upon the concentration of CO.

• The CO % is determined by matching with colour scale/chart provided with

the instrument.

• The CO% read off corresponding to the no. of squeezes.

• Instrument is sensitive to a conc. of 0.01% CO and can detect a range of

0.01 to 0.4%.

• If the CO% is less, 5 squeezes of the aspirator bulb is necessary.

 3. Using electronic measuring instruments

• For frequent measurement of CO, portable electronic measuring

instruments are more accurate and economical than a detector with detector
tubes.

• These are self-contained battery-powered instrument capable of measuring

CO in air in a range of 0 to 100 or 0 to 500 ppm by vol.

• These are used for on-the-spot measurement of CO in air for fixed point
continuous monitoring in any location.

• They utilize electro-chemical polarographic cell sensors and provide

direct readings as well as audible and visual alarms if present at 50 ppm
conc. or at any other desired level.
• The rechargeable 2.4 V Ni-Cd battery pack sealed in a plastic case provides
8 to 10 hrs of sampling in fully charged condition.

• A small pump draws an air sample into the inlet through a flowmeter and a
factory-set flow control valve.

• A portion of the sample is routed into the sensor sample chamber through
an interferant filter to minimize their effects.

• The sample then exhausts through a port in the sample chamber.

 HYDROGEN SULPHIDE

• H2S was referred to as stinkdamp in early mining days.

• It is as poisonous as CO and may cause death in a short time if inhaled in

large quantities.

Physical properties of H2S:

• It is a colourless gas.

• Smells like rotten eggs.

• Slightly heavier than air. Has specific gravity 1.175 and density 1.5
kg/Nm3.

• It is readily soluble in water: 1 vol. of water dissolving about 3 vols. of H2S.

• It is combustible but does not support combustion.

• The gas burns in air with pale blue flame.

• It forms flammable mixtures when mixed with air: the flammable range being
4.3 to 45%.
Sources of H2S in mine:

• H2S gas occurs only in traces relatively in few coal and metal mines.

H2S is produced in mines from the following causes:

• Spontaneous heating of coal containing sulphur in the form of pyrites or

finely disseminated organic compounds.

• Decay of organic matter especially timbers.

• Action of acid mine water on sulphides (iron pyrites).

• Methane blowers and outburst give small quantities of H2S.

• Emission from fissures and joints of strata especially in potash mines.

• Emission from water of mineral springs when intersected.

• Emission in association with firedamp.

• Improper detonation of gun powder.

• Blasting in heavy sulphide ore.

• Bacterial action on sulphates.

• Dust explosion in sulphide mines.

Place of Occurrence of H2S in Mines

• Found in stagnant water in old workings since highly soluble in water.

• Intermediate and main sump.

• In areas of gob fires or spontaneous heating.

• Old workings (decay of organic matter) due to poor ventilation.

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF H2S

• H2S is extremely toxic.

• Highly poisonous gas: it is more poisonous than CO but it gives an

immediate warning.

• It causes irritation and inflammation of eyes and respiratory tracts at conc. of

50-100 ppm after 1 hr. of exposure.

• At high conc. of 200-700 ppm, it causes pain in throat and chest.

 Physiological effects of H2S
(Source: Forbes and Grove (1954) and Sunshine (1969))

Concentration Symptoms

0.005 – 0.01% Slight symptoms such as eye and respiratory tract irritation
after 1 hr exposure

0.01% Loss of odour after exposure of 15 minutes

0.02 – 0.07% Increased eye irritation, headache, dizziness, nausea,

dryness, and pain in nose, throat, and chest

0.07 – 0.1% Unconsciousness, cessation of respiration and death

0.1% Death in a few minutes

 DETECTION OF H2S
BY SMELL:

• Presence of H2S can be easily detected by the typical odour of rotten egg
even at conc. as low as 0.0001% (1 ppm).

• This distinctive odour, however is noticed only in conc. less than 0.2%.

• At higher concentrations or following continued exposure to conc. as low as

0.01%, the gas paralyzes the sense of smell and the sensory response is
not proportional to the conc. of the gas.

• Therefore, the sense of smell cannot be relied upon as a means of

detection.

Using blotting paper:

• A blotting paper soaked in lead acetate changes its colour to black in

presence of H2S gas.

• A moist silver coin would also change to black in presence of H2S due to
formation of black sulphide on the surface.
Using colorimetric indicating detectors:

Using MSA H2S detectors:

• MSA detector consists of palladium chloride in an acetone-water solution,

sealed in a small glass tube which is surrounded with absorbent cotton.

• Presence of H2S is indicated by colour change to dark in the cotton when

the tube is crushed between thumbs and forefingers;

• Discolouration is compared with the scale on a standard colour chart

supplied.

Using length-of-stain H2S detectors:

• length-of-stain H2S detectors using detector tubes are available from

Draeger, MSA, Auer.

• The detector tube of MSA H2S detector contains white granules of activated
aluminium oxide (alumina) coated with silver cyanide which turn greyish-
black on coming into contact with the H2S in the air sample drawn through
the tube due to formation of black silver sulphide.
• From the length of travel of discolouration through the granules, the
percentage of H2S in the air is directly read off the calibrated graduated
scale.

• The instrument has a measuring range of 0 to 800 ppm.

Portable H2S detectors:

• Such detectors are manufactured by the MSA.

• Like portable CO indicators, these are self-contained battery-powered solid-

state instruments using an electrochemical polarographic cell for their
operation.

• They provide direct readings as well as audible and visual alarms if

concentrations exceed present limits on the low and high ranges.

• The measuring ranges are 0 to 20 and 0 to 100 ppm H2S in air with a min.
detectable conc. of 0.5 ppm.

• A small pump draws a sample of air which is analyzed for H2S.

 NITROUS FUMES (OXIDES OF NITROGEN), NOX

• N2 is physiologically inert; however, under certain conditions it forms several

oxides, some of which are extremely toxic.

• There are six oxides of N2. These are NO, NO2, N2O, N2O3, N2O4, N2O5.

• N2O5 (Unstable white crystalline solid)

• NO (Nitric Oxide), NO2 (Nitrogen dioxide), N2O4 (Nitrogen tetroxide) are

having a biting and chocking smell.

• They are yellow to reddish-brown in colour and have a smell of blasting

powder fumes.

• They are easily dissolved by the moisture in mine air.

• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is the most toxic of these oxides of N2.

• Original product is NO, quickly combines with O2 to form red fumes of
nitrogen dioxide (NO2) – this has got pungent smell like fuming nitric acid.

• As NO2 cools down, it is slowly converted into colourless nitrogen tetroxide

(N2O4)

22 o C 140 o C
(Colourless)  (Deep brown)
N 2 O4 NO 2

• Out of nitrous fumes, NO2 is most prisonous. NO is also poisonous, but less
poisonous than NO2.

• N2O5 is unstable crystalline solid – readily decomposes into O2 and NO2

2N2O5 4NO2 + O2
SOURCES OF NITROUS FUMES MINES

• Nitrous fumes are formed during blasting by high explosives such as gelatine
dynamite due to incomplete detonation.

• Explosives: When explosives containing NG undergo combustion instead of

detonations as may occur with weak detonators

NG explosives with oxygen imbalance: an excess of O2 produces nitrous fumes and

an deficiency of O2 produces CO.

• They tend to settle in the freshly blasted and dry muck pile, being about 1.5 times
heavier than air and released when muck pile is disturbed posing a hazard to the
loader operator.

• Nitrous fumes are also produced during the combustion process inside the
cylinders of a diesel engine.

• Diesel Loco: In small quantities in exhaust fumes of diesel loco.

• Shafts and Tunnels: Shafts and tunnels where heavy shot firing takes place in a
confined space.
Physiological Properties:

• Nitrous fumes are highly poisonous and 7 to 10 times more toxic than CO.

• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is 5 times more toxic than nitric oxide (NO).

• NO2 combines with the hemoglobin of the blood about 300,000 times
more readily than O2 to form an extremely stable compound thereby
quickly reducing the O2-carrying capacity of the blood.

• Threshold limit value of NO2 is given as 5 ppm as per DGMS circular.

• Even at low concs. (10-20 ppm) NO2 exerts corrosive effect on lung
tissues.

• As NO2 is fairly soluble in water forming nitric acid, the moist air-
passages of the nose, throat, and lungs are irritated immediately.

• Men affected by nitrous fumes show immediate symptoms of cough,

nausea, choking, perspiration and headache, but later develop serious
bronchial troubles such as bronchitis which may prove fatal within 48 hrs.
Table: Effects of Exposure to the Toxic Odixes of Nitrogen (Forbes and
Grove (1954) and Christensen and Luginbyhl (1975))

Concentration Effect
ppm
5 Current TLV

60 Least amount causing immediate throat irritation

100 Least amount causing coughing

100-150 Dangerous even for short exposure

200-700 Rapidly fatal

Detection and estimation:

Using colour-stain detector tubes:

• Nitrous fumes can be detected by colour-stain detector tubes in conc. up
to 100 ppm.

• The Draeger detector tubes measure nitrous fumes (NO + NO2) in the
ranges 0.5-10 ppm, 2-50 ppm, and 5-100 ppm.

• The detector tube contains a reddish-brown oxidation layer containing a

chromium compound and a yellow indicating layer of N-diphenyl
benzidine which changes colour to dark bluish-grey in the presence
of the fumes.

Exposing a filter paper soaked with starch and Pottasium iodine solution
to the fumes.

• Filter paper turns blue by the liberation of iodine in the presence of nitrous
fumes.
 RADON (Rn)

• Radon is a noble gas produced by the decay of radium 226 (226Ra).

• It is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-flammable, and radioactive

gas having a density of approx. 9.73 kg/m3 at 0°C and 100 kPa.

• It is chemically inert and not toxic, radioactive product of disintegration of

radium.

• Found primarily in uranium mines, although present in trace amounts in

other mines including coal mines.

• It is considered to be a health hazard due to its radioactivity and a great

concern to ventilation engineers.

• Breathing of high conc. of radon causes lung cancer.

 Radiation dose pathways for uranium workers

• External Gamma Radiation: from uranium ore

• Internal exposure to the lungs: via inhalation of 222

Rn
gas and 222Rn progeny.

• Internal exposure to the lungs and organs: via inhalation of

airborne radioactive dust particles.
• Radon diffuses from the rock strata into the mine environment where the
decay process continue with the formation of radium A, which decays to
radium B, which produces radium C, and so forth.

• During the decay process, often alpha or beta particles and gamma rays are
emitted.

• Alpha particles are positively charged, have low energy and can travel 3.8 to
7.6 cm in air.

• They do not penetrate the outer layers of skin and can be stopped by heavy
clothing.

• Beta particles are negatively charged and can penetrate skin and few mm
of lead.

• Gamma radiation is electromagnetic radiation and has a relatively high

penetration.
• Radon has no stable isotope and has atomic masses ranging between 204
and 224.

• Radon 222 (222Rn) is the longest lived isotope with a half-life of 3.82 days.

• All of the radon isotopes undergo radioactive decay producing their decay
products (known as daughter products) until equilibrium is reached when
(206Pb) is formed.

• Radon daughter products are atoms of solid matter having relatively short half-lives.

• In the disintegration process, the uranium-238 decays to lead-206.

• The half-life of a radioactive substance is the time required for a given

amount of that substance to lose one half of its radioactivity.

• For example, the half life of uranium-238 is approx. 4.5 billion years; radium,
1622 years; and radon 3.82 days.
Sources of Radon in Mines

• Radon is found in small concentrations in most hard rock mines.

• Coals are also known to contain traces of radium which can produce radon
in underground mines.

• In uranium mines the radiation level is quite high and directly prop. to the
grade of the uranium ore.

• The radon gas diffuses out into mine atmosphere through cracks and
fissures or by way of mine water which dissolves radon.

• The emanation is enhanced if the host rock has a weak or porous structure.
Reduction of conc. of radon and daughter products in mine
environment

Conc. of radon and daughter products in the mine environment is

controlled by

1. Providing adequate quantity of fresh air containing as low a

concentration of radon as possible to the working section.

2. Providing high air velocities to keep the air residence time to a

minimum.

3. Avoiding local recirculation of air.

4. Selecting a suitable mining method.

5. Sealing-off worked out sections effectively.

6. Using air-stream helmets for selected tasks.

7. Worker education.

8. Applying radon barrier sealant coatings to exposed rock

surfaces.