Occupational and environmental health researchers at the varsity’s Mining and Geological Engineering Department alongside the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health will study Emissions from underground mining equipment powered by diesel and compare them with those powered biodiesel-blend fuels.
UA Zuckerman College of Public Health professor and principal investigator of the study Dr. Jeff Burgess revealed that diesel particulate exposure in underground mining fall above existing standards.
"Biodiesel blends are being employed to reduce these exposures, yet there is no information on whether this increases decreases or fails to change the toxicity to miners of equipment emissions.
"This study will help determine the health consequences of using biodiesel fuel blends in the underground mining setting," Burgess said.
