Hydrogen cyanide gas (HCN{g)) is formed during the process of extracting gold from
ore and may pose a risk to the health of the workers at the gold refinery (Mill/plant),
especially the risk of detrimental effects on the central nervous system and the
cardiovascular system. The measurement of the personal airborne HCN(g) exposure
of a worker using sorbent tubes, provides the concentration of the chemical that the
worker breaths in. The measurement of the urinary thiocyanate (SCN~) concentration
provides the total HCN exposure experience by the worker through all possible
routes of exposure. The study's aim was to determine if the workers were exposed to
HCN(g) concentrations that was higher than the occupational exposure limit (OEL) ,
which would mean that the workers are exposed to excessive and possibly harmful
levels of HCN. The monitored workers were divided into three homogenous
exposure groups or HEGs, according to the their potential level of exposure. The
results were compared between the three HEGs and between three work description
groups, namely the Mill/plant workers, SGS laboratory assistants and members of
the environmental department. The study found that all the workers were exposed to
personal airborne HCN(9) concentrations below the OEL. A statistical significant
difference was found the personal airborne exposure experienced by the three HEGs
and between the Mill/plant workers and the members of the environmental
department. No statistical significant difference was found between the urinary SCN"
concentration found in the three HEGs or the between the three work description
groups. Confounding factors such as smoking, the consumption of cassava, the
exposure to fire smoke and the amount of time worked at the mine did not influence
the urinary SCN~ concentration. The implementation of a biological monitoring
program would enable the identification of any worker that is exposed to excessive
levels of HCN. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Occupational Hygiene))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NWUBOLOKA1/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/3836 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Linde, Karlien |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | North-West University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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