Inhaling 'Red Mud Disaster' dust may not be as harmful to health as feared

Their study, reported in ACS's journal Environmental Science & Technology, concludes that the dust from the mud may be no more harmful than particles of ordinary urban air pollution.

Mihály Pósfai and colleagues point out that a burst dam at a factory that processes aluminum ore last October inundated areas near Ajka in northern Hungary with more than 700,000 cubic yards of caustic red mud. Ten people died and dozens were injured. Since the mud contained potentially toxic substances, concern arose about the health effects of inhaling dust formed when the mud dried and was swept into the air by wind.

They studied the chemical and physical properties of the red mud particles and dust and concluded that particles of red mud dust were too large to be inhaled deeply into lungs, where they could cause the most damage. Although the resuspension potential of red mud dust is large, inhalation likely would cause irritation and coughing, but would not increase the risk of other more serious health problems, the report suggested.

ARTICLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“The red mud accident in Ajka (Hungary): Characterization and potential health effects of fugitive dust”
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http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/10.1021/es104005r
CONTACT:
Mihály Pósfai, Ph.D.
Dept. of Earth & Environmental Sciences
University of Pannonia
Veszprém, POB 158
H-8200 Hungary
Tel: 36 88-624155
FAX: 36 88-624454
Email: mihaly.posfai@gmail.com