Characterization and Health Risk Assessment of Airborne Dust Generated in a Highly Mechanized Underground Metalliferous Mine

This paper presents a study on airborne dust concentrations in a mechanized underground metalliferous mine using high-resolution real-time aerosol spectrometers. The study found that despite the lack of visible dust and mining operations near the study locations, the average total airborne dust (TAD) concentrations at two locations A and B were 1170 ± 320 μg/m3 and 796 ± 68 μg/m3, respectively. The study developed cumulative and differential dust concentration profiles, revealing the presence of harmful fine dust particles at both the locations. Moreover, the study revealed that 87.9