ABSTRACT
There has been an increased recognition of worker exposure to DPM as a problem in the mining industry by various health organizations [ACGIH 2001] [NIOSH 1988] [EPA 2000]. Consequently, legislation was recently passed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to limit DPM concentrations in underground metal/non-metal mines. Provisions of this DPM health standard are found in "Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure of Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mines," published in the Federal Register on January 19, 2001 (66 FR 5706) and amended on February 7, 2002 (67 FR 9180) [MSHA 2001].
