Mineraalipölyä

Mineraalipölyä, known in English as mineral dust, refers to fine particles of inorganic material suspended in the air. These particles can originate from a variety of natural and anthropogenic sources. Natural sources include geological processes such as erosion of rocks and soil by wind and water, volcanic eruptions, and dust storms in arid and semi-arid regions. Anthropogenic sources are often related to human activities, including mining, construction, quarrying, agriculture, and industrial processes that involve the handling or processing of mineral-based materials.

The size of mineral dust particles is typically in the micrometer range, making them inhalable. Upon inhalation, these particles can deposit in different parts of the respiratory system depending on their size. Larger particles may be trapped in the upper airways, while smaller, respirable particles can reach the lungs. Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of mineral dust can pose health risks, particularly to the respiratory system. Conditions such as silicosis, a serious lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust, and other pneumoconioses (dust-related lung diseases) are well-documented occupational hazards associated with exposure to certain types of mineral dust.

Environmental impacts of mineral dust also exist. Large-scale dust transport can affect air quality over vast distances, influence climate by scattering and absorbing solar radiation, and impact soil fertility and water bodies upon deposition. Control measures in industrial settings focus on dust suppression techniques and personal protective equipment to minimize worker exposure.