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Negative Rock Quarry Effects

The mining industry poses unique occupational hazards to its workers and to those living in the vicinity of rock quarries. Explosives and cutting of stone in quarries releases particulate matter into the air, which can cause human illness such as silicosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Another significant negative effect is the noise generated by the mining, which has been linked to hearing loss for quarry workers.

  1. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

    • Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is an occupational hazard associated with the mining industry. A study published in the May 2011 issue of "Environmental Monitoring and Assessment" monitored noise levels generated from a quarry and stone crushing operation in Turkey and correlated these findings to NIHL. The researchers found that factors including time on the job, age and specific occupation were directly related to the amount of hearing loss in workers. The study concluded that workers operating stone-crushing equipment were exposed to the highest levels of noise and suffered the greatest amount of NIHL.

    Decreased Lung Capacity

    • Sandstone quarry workers are exposed to large amounts of airborne particulates from the mining process. An article appearing in the December 2007 issue of the "International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health" investigated the reduction of lung capacity of workers from a sandstone quarry in India. The researchers found that exposure to particulate matter for over 15 years significantly decreased the lung capacity of workers. Additionally, the study concluded that these workers also had a greater probability of suffering from silicosis, a chronic occupational lung disease.

    Public Exposure

    • A study conducted by the California Environmental Protection Agency stated that the general public can be exposed to silica dust from mining operations. Their findings, published in the December 2005 issue of "Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology" stated that the actual levels of silica exposure have been underestimated in previous reports. The researchers found that a range of 3 to 10 µg of silica dust per cubic meter of air was typical around California quarries. The study concluded that these levels have been linked to chronic lung disease in previous studies.

    Lung Inflammation

    • Inhalation of dust from rock quarries can induce inflammation of lung tissue. A study published in the April 2005 issue of "The Annals of Occupational Hygiene" exposed human epithelial cells from the lung to microscopic particles similar to those obtained form a stone quarry in Norway. The researchers found that the particulate matter induced the cells to release chemicals known as chemokines, which are proteins that induce inflammation in tissues. However, the researchers were unable to identify the particular elements in the dust that induced this effect.

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