UNDERGROUND AIR POLLUTION IN METAL MINES: NEW CONTROL METHOD AND CASE STUDY IN TWO ROMANIAN MINES FROM BAIA MARE ORE BASIN

Heat and exhaust emissions are representing two of the major health and safety issues induced by the presence of Diesel-mounted equipments in underground mines. The first one has greater effects in deep mines, while the second one requires a careful dimensioning of ventilation airflows in all mines. Taking into consideration the higher exposure level of Diesel mounted equipment drivers at the noxious products contained in the exhaust emissions, it clearly appears as a major safety concern the need for an expeditious method of assessing the pollution degree. The paper presents the legal requirements regarding the Diesel exhaust emissions in Romanian underground mines, a new expeditious method aimed at assessing the mine air pollution degree and the results of measurements and experimental data processing at Baia-Sprie and Suior mines. The measurements carried out in two metal mines from Baia Mare basin and the plotting of individual and cumulated dependence curves, have confirmed the feasibility of using the CO2 as a control index of pollution levels generated by underground operation of Diesel mounted equipments.