Pneumoconiosis Field Research: Summary report on environmental conditions at Pentremawr/Cynheidre Colliery 1967-1976

This report summarises the environmental measurements made during Phase II of the Pneumoconiosis Field Research and covers the period from March, 1967 to September, 1976. Initially, the measurements were made at Pentremawr Colliery, but with its closure and transfer of men to Cynheidre 3 in 1972 the research was continued in the Cynheidre complex.A brief description is given of the collieries, the seams worked, the mining methods, the techniques and results of environmental sampling. The dust concentrations, which are in gravimetric units, are tabulated and discussed in relation to the mining activities.Both respirable and ‘total dust’ concentrations are given for all occupational groups and where there was no direct sampling, estimates have been obtained by comparison with similar groups and conditions. The composition of the respirable dust for the various general environments is also discussed.Throughout this period Pentremawr/Cynheidre Collieries had a coalface (all shifts) mean respirable dust concentration of 2.2 mg/m3. The ash content of the respirable dust was 22.5 per cent and the mean quartz in sample was 2.7 per cent (concentration 0. 06 mg/m3).