Application of low-cost particulate matter sensors for air quality monitoring and exposure assessment in underground mines: A review

• Published in: International journal of minerals, metallurgy and materials Vol. 29; no. 8; pp. 1475 - 1490
• Main Authors: Amoah, Nana A., Xu, Guang, Wang, Yang, Li, Jiayu, Zou, Yongming, Nie, Baisheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing University of Science and Technology Beijing 01.08.2022; Springer Nature B.V; Department of Mining Engineering,Missouri University of Science and Technology,Rolla,Missouri 65401,USA%Department of Civil,Architectural and Environmental Engineering,Missouri University of Science and Technology,Rolla,Missouri 65401,USA%Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering,University of Minnesota,St.Paul,MN 55455,USA%China Coal Technology and Engineering Group Shenyang Research Institute,Fushun 113122,China; State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Safety Technology,Fushun 113122,China%School of Resources and Safety Engineering,Chongqing University,Chongqing 400044,China
• Subjects: Air monitoring; Air quality; Airborne particulates; Ceramics; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Coal dust; Coal mining; Composites; Corrosion and Coatings; Error correction; Exposure; Glass; Invited Review; Low cost; Lung cancer; Materials Science; Metallic Materials; Mines; Monitors; Natural Materials; Occupational exposure; Particulate emissions; Particulate matter; Performance evaluation; Pneumoconiosis; Quality assessment; Respiratory diseases; Sensors; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; Tribology; Underground mines; particulate matter; underground mine; low-cost sensors; sensor calibration; air quality
• ISSN: 1674-4799; 1869-103X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12613-021-2378-z

Exposure to mining-induced particulate matter (PM) including coal dust and diesel particulate matter (DPM) causes severe respiratory diseases such as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) and lung cancer. Limited spatiotemporal resolution of current PM monitors causes miners to be exposed to unknown PM concentrations, with increased overexposure risk. Low-cost PM sensors offer a potential solution to this challenge with their capability in characterizing PM concentrations with high spatiotemporal resolution. However, their application in underground mines has not been explored. With the aim of examining the potential application of low-cost sensors in underground mines, a critical review of the present status of PM sensor research is conducted. The working principles of present PM monitors and low-cost sensors are compared. Sensor error sources are identified, and comprehensive calibration processes are presented to correct them. Evaluation protocols are proposed to evaluate sensor performance prior to deployment, and the potential application of low-cost sensors is discussed.