Coal dust level in South Kalimantan beyond tolerable limit: Health Ministry

The coal dust level resulting from coal mining activity including transportation in South Kalimantan has surpassed the tolerable limit, according to a survey conducted by the local office of the health ministry.

Head of the South Kalimantan office of the health ministry Zairullah Azhar was quoted by Kapos daily as saying that on average, the coal dust level in the province reached 9.56 Mg/M3, which was 36 times the tolerable limit.

Zairullah said that the result was based on the recent survey made by his office.

He said that such a high coal dust level could cause various serious illness to the people including lungs problem, diarrhea, and other respiratory illness. (*)