Author(s)

R. Rojano, H. Arregocés, L. Angulo, G. Restrepo

Abstract

Fugitive material has been identified as the main source of air pollution, especially total suspended particulate (TSP) and particulate matter less than 10 micrometers (PM₁₀) in open pit mining. The aim of this research was to estimate the concentration of PM₁₀ and measure the impact of coal piles on nearby populations. The sources under consideration are three different areas for coal storing. All three areas are distributed along the mine with 14 piles with a total capacity of 3.2 Mton. Emissions were estimated and the contribution of PM₁₀ for the activities of loading, unloading, hauling coal, tractor operations and wind disturbances on the surface of the coal piles using the emission factors suggested by EPA. The contribution to environmental receptors was determined with the dispersion model CALPUFF. Although higher emissions occur in solar hours, characterised by high values of wind speed and higher insolation, the greater receptivity PM₁₀ measurements stations occur during the night hours by decreasing the mixing height. The model show that the activities involved in coal storage can provide 14.5% of daily environmental concentrations in receptors located 16.2 km downwind of the source, which showed that CALPUFF can be used for complex terrain and short distance from the source of emission.

Keywords

CALPUFF, PM₁₀, piles, coal, emissions, open pit