Mine Gases

Mine Rescue and Safety

Mine Gases
Air is mixture of Gases. It is colorless, odourless and tasteless. Composition of Air: Oxygen: 20.93% Nitrogen: 78.11% Carbon dioxide: 0.03% Inert gases: 0.93% Water vapour: variable

Units of Gases
Gases are usually measured in Percentage (%) by volume and ppm. Since both of these units of measurements are volume relationship, they are easily converted to one another. Interconversion of PPM & Percentage: For PPm multiply by 10,000. For Percentage divide by 10,000

Carbon Monoxide: (co)

Common Name : White Damp Health Effect: co poison the human body by being absorbed into the blood stream and not allowing the blood to take up and transport the necessary oxygen to the various cells and organs. Blood will absorb considerably more carbon monoxide than it will oxygen, thus the body tissues soon suffer oxygen starvation.

CO : Health Effects
a). Formation of carboxyhemoglobin : The o2 combine with the hemoglobin on blood to form oxyhemoglobin while co combine with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin and prevent absorption of O2. b). Blood Saturation: As the formation of carboxyhemoglobin increase the red cell available for the formation of oxyhemoglobin become less and consequently blood become saturated with CO.

Blood saturation (Health effect of Co) continue

At 100% saturation blood cannot absorb O2 or co. As O2 is necessary for functioning and existence of human body, the death occur at this stage. Research has shown that chronic exposure to co as in normal cigarette smoking, may cause permanent damage to the central nervous system, heart and lungs.

Health Effects of Exposure to CO

It includes: 400 ppm: thermal headache develops after two or three hours exposure 1600 ppm: Headache, dizziness and nausea in 20 minutes, collapse & death in two hours. 2000-2500 ppm: Unconsciousness in about 30 minutes. High concentrations may provide little or no warning before collapse. Deafness has been reported for severe co irritation.

Contamination limit:
The 8-hrs average limit for co is 29mg/m3 or 25 ppm (the occupational health and safety Regulation 1996) For u/g operaions, the limit for co is 25ppm.

Properties of CO:
It is colourless, odourless and tasteless. It is extremely poisonous. Sp. Gr is 0.97. Found as a layer towards the roof in mines. It is slightly soluble in water. It burn with pale blue flame to form co2. It has an explosive range from 12.5 to 74%. Such concentration are unlike to result from a mine fire. Unless the fire is confined and O2 starved.

Origin of CO
CO is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon based materials. The burning or detonation of explosive also produce co and it is emitted from the exhaust of internal combustion engines.

Detection methods
Electronic gas detectors and direct dealing colourmetric tubes are available for co. Electronic gas detectors are better for the lower concentration experienced in the normal working environment.

Exposure Effect
Absorption of co into the blood stream depends upon: Exposure time Gas concentration Working being performed
Exercise, high temperature, humidity and emotion stress tend to increase the heart rate and thus the absorption of co.

Degree of saturation
b= 4ate/100
o b: blood saturation by carboxy hemoglobin as a % o a: co concentration in ppm o t: time of exposure in hrs o e: factor showing activity
1: at rest 2: walking 3: moderate work

Treatment of effected Person

1: take victim to fresh air and if possible give o2 immediately to lessen the severity of co poisoning If serious, further medical attention shall be provided as soon as possible.