Which Type of Coal Dust Is the Most Reactive?

Coal dust is given the term "reactive" to describe how likely it is to create health damaging reactions in the human body. Coal miners are at high risk of acquiring a number of lung diseases, and a variety of health related problems because of their prolonged exposure to coal dust while working underground. Medical professionals evaluate different types of coal dusts to determine if there is any variance in how they affect workers' health.

Anthracite Dust

• Anthracite coal is a type of coal with a high carbon content, and is known for its shiny appearance. This coal contains the fewest impurities of all the types of mined coal. Anthracite coal has the highest caloric count, which means that it is highly sought for power production facilities. This coal produces high amounts of free radicals when it's mined, and therefore is considered highly reactive. When studies were completed between new and old anthracite dist, the dust from more recently mined coal was found to contain much higher free radical levels than older dust.

Bituminous Coal Dust

• Bituminous coal does not shine like anthracite coal. It is softer and has a matte black finish. This coal contains a tar-like substance called bitumen, from which it derives it name. This coal has a lower caloric count than anthracite, and therefore is more useful in steel mills for manufacturing than for power plants. Testing dust created from this coal finds that it gives off much lower quantities of free radicals than anthracite, and therefore it is not as reactive as anthracite dust.

Free Radical Reactions

• The importance of the free radicals in coal dust directly relates to the health conditions of miners. Coal dust particles found in miner's lungs contain higher levels of free radicals. Therefore coal dust with higher levels of free radicals are considered more reactive with human tissue. They are known to create a number of specific health problems. The free radicals stimulate the production of various factors with compromise how a human lung operates. Autopsies of miners' lungs show considerable growth of fibrous tissues as the lung becomes a repository for coal dust.

Health Hazards

• A number of specific ailments are included in the term "black lung disease." Simple coal workers' pneumonia is a restriction of the air passages as a lung grows additional fibrous tissue in response to exposure to free radicals in coal dust. Progressive massive fibrosis turns the miner's lung into something that looks like a black, semi-solid sponge. Miners also protract chronic bronchitis and emphysema in higher numbers than the general population. All of these conditions are the result of miners' exposure to reactive coal dust.