Federal Officials Unveil New Rules Regulating Silica Dust Levels in Mines
Earlier this week, federal officials unveiled new rules protecting miners from silica dust, a toxic component that gets trapped in lung tissue causing scarring and inflammation. Silica is found in abundance on earth and is roughly 20 times more toxic than coal dust. It is commonly found in the quartz that surrounds coal seams. This is a growing issue in mines that has left some individuals sick and even caused some individuals to die. Researchers have, for decades now, recommended that exposure to silica dust be limited and regulated so overexposure is avoided. The new rules impose exposure limits applied…
