title: Oxidative potential (OP) and mineralogy of iron ore particulate matter at the Gol-E-Gohar Mining and Industrial Facility (Iran).
abstract: Concentrations of total suspended particulate matter, particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm (PM2.5), particulate matter <10 μm (PM10), and fallout dust were measured at the Iranian Gol-E-Gohar Mining and Industrial Facility. Samples were characterized in terms of mineralogy, morphology, and oxidative potential. Results show that indoor samples exceeded the 24-h PM2.5and PM10mass concentration limits (35 and 150 µg m-3, respectively) set by the US National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Calcite, magnetite, tremolite, pyrite, talc, and clay minerals such as kaolinite, vermiculite, and illite are the major phases of the iron ore PM. Accessory minerals are quartz, dolomite, hematite, actinolite, biotite, albite, nimite, laumontite, diopside, and muscovite. The scanning electron microscope structure of fibrous-elongated minerals revealed individual fibers in the range of 1.5 nm to 71.65 µm in length and 0.2 nm to 3.7 µm in diameter. The presence of minerals related to respiratory diseases, such as talc, crystalline silica, and needle-shaped minerals like amphibole asbestos (tremolite and actinolite), strongly suggests the need for detailed health-based studies in the region. The particulate samples show low to medium oxidative potential per unit of mass, in relation to an urban road side control, being more reactive with ascorbate than with glutathione or urate. However, the PM oxidative potential per volume of air is exceptionally high, confirming that the workers are exposed to a considerable oxidative environment. PM released by iron ore mining and processing activities should be considered a potential health risk to the mine workers and nearby employees, and strategies to combat the issue are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, College of Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71454, Iran. naghmeh.soltani@shirazu.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Naghmeh
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1207-1386
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Soltani
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, College of Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71454, Iran.
authors.forename: Behnam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Keshavarzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.|Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sorooshian
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, College of Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71454, Iran.
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dunster
authors.affiliation: MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK.
authors.forename: Ana Oliete
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Dominguez
authors.affiliation: MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK.
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
authors.forename: Prakash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dhakal
authors.affiliation: Gol-E-Gohar Iron Ore and Steel Research Institute, Gol-E-Gohar Mining and Industrial Co., Sirjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohamad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, College of Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71454, Iran.
authors.forename: Sina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asadi
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D007492:Iran; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D058085:Iron Compounds; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects; D000072499:Manufacturing and Industrial Facilities; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D008906:Mining; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D058085:Iron Compounds; D008903:Minerals; D052638:Particulate Matter; D007501:Iron
keywords: Amphibole asbestos; Iron ore; Mining; Oxidative potential; Particulate matter