Bauxite Mining and Alumina Refining: Process Description and Occupational Health Risks

OBJECTIVE:To describe bauxite mining and alumina refining processes and to outline the relevant physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial health risks. METHODS:Review article. RESULTS:The most important risks relate to noise, ergonomics, trauma, and caustic soda splashes of the ski...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 2014-05, Vol.56 (5S), p.S12-S17
Main Authors: Donoghue, A. Michael, Frisch, Neale, Olney, David
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accidents, Occupational
Air Pollutants, Occupational - adverse effects
Alumina
Aluminum Oxide - chemistry
Aluminum Oxide - toxicity
Caustic soda
Dust
Ergonomics
Health risk assessment
Human exposure
Humans
Metallurgy - methods
Mining
Noise, Occupational - adverse effects
Occupational Exposure - adverse effects
Occupational health
Original
Original Article
Radiation Injuries - etiology
Safety
Vibration - adverse effects
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Description
Summary:OBJECTIVE:To describe bauxite mining and alumina refining processes and to outline the relevant physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial health risks. METHODS:Review article. RESULTS:The most important risks relate to noise, ergonomics, trauma, and caustic soda splashes of the skin/eyes. Other risks of note relate to fatigue, heat, and solar ultraviolet and for some operations tropical diseases, venomous/dangerous animals, and remote locations. Exposures to bauxite dust, alumina dust, and caustic mist in contemporary best-practice bauxite mining and alumina refining operations have not been demonstrated to be associated with clinically significant decrements in lung function. Exposures to bauxite dust and alumina dust at such operations are also not associated with the incidence of cancer. CONCLUSIONS:A range of occupational health risks in bauxite mining and alumina refining require the maintenance of effective control measures.
ISSN:1076-2752
1536-5948
DOI:10.1097/JOM.0000000000000001