Hazard assessment due to inhalation of airborne metals in uranium mine premises

Elements are essential macro- and micro- nutrients performing various biochemical functions in all living organisms. Although some of them are essential, they may be toxic if taken in excess. Intake of metal can occur by inhalation or ingestion. During the uranium ore handling operations, ore dust-containing metals like Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cr etc. may become airborne which may pose inhalation hazard. The present study has been carried out in Bhatin mine premise where ore is handled. The airborne ore dust in the mine premise were analysed for different metals and corresponding Average Daily Dose (ADD) to the workers were estimated considering about 73% of the suspended particulate matter as respirable. The corresponding Hazard Quotient (HQ) has also been estimated to find the risk associated due to inhalation. The hazard quotients for all metals were found less than 1. It has also been observed that the sum of HQs for all the significant metals is << 1 indicating no significant risk. (author)