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The objective of this study was to assess mining workers´ exposures to potentially carcinogenic air contaminants with major non-carcinogenic contaminants in various types of mines in Korea. The number of mines by type was two coal, one mica ore, one lead/zinc ore, one iron ore, and two limestone mines. The concentrations of air contaminants (total/respirable dust. crystalline silica, chromium, lead, nickel, berillum, cadmium, and fibrous particulate) were determined. The geometric means (GMs) of total dust concentrations at coal, mica, lead/ zinc ore, iron ore and limestone mines were 18.9, 1.82, 1.45, 0.95, and 1.29 ㎎/㎥, respectively, and was significantly different among the kind of mines (p＜/0.05). Average total dust concentrations in coal mines exceeded the occupational exposure limit for coal dust (5㎎/㎥) established by the Korea Minisry of Labor. The GMs of respirable dust concentration at coal, mica, lead/zinc ore, iron ore, coal and limestone mines were 5.15, 0.48, 0.17, 0.70, and 0.35 ㎎/㎥, respectively, and significantly different among the kind of mines (p＜0.05). The GMs of total and respirable crystalline silica concentrations at coal mines were 0.13 ㎎/㎥ and 0.05 ㎎/㎥, respectively, and the values at other mines were below the limit of detection or much lower than those of coal mines. Fibrous particulate in air samples was not detected or ＜0.01 fibers/cc in all mine. Although the concentrations of carcinogenic metals (Cr(Ⅵ), Cr, Pb, Cd, Ni and Be) and non-carcinogenic metals (Fe and Cu) were below the exposure limits in all mines, but the carcinogenic metals were detected at relatively high levels in air samples from coal iron and limestone mines. It was found that the miniers of all the mines were exposed at lower levels to mixture of potential carcinogens and that particularly the coal miners would have the higher risks of cancer with pneumoconiosis.
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