1. 6th International Conference on Sustainable Development in the
Minerals Industry, 30 June – 3 July 2013, Milos island, Greece
577
Possibilities for mitigating negative effects of noise and dust caused by
extraction of sand, gravel and peat
M. Orru and H. Milvek
Department of Mining, Tallinn University of Technology and Geological Survey of Estonia, Estonia
A. Anepaio, S. Vendla and I. Valgma
Department of Mining, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
ABSTRACT
2. MATERIAL AND METHODS
The Estonian legislation requires an environmental impact assessment prior to issuing a
permit for extracting mineral resources. Extraction of sand, gravel and peat involves dust and
noise, their amount depending on the used technology.
Usually, the average noise level in the peat
fields is 58.2 dB. The content of fine peat dust
(<10 μm, PM10) usually ranges between 0.002
and 0.448 mg/m³ per 30 minutes during operations (Orru et al., 2012b).
Measurements in sand and gravel pits show
that the content of fine dust (<10 μm, PM10) in
the ambient air averages 0.011 mg/m³ per 60
minutes during pit operation. Modelling shows
that noise in the sand and gravel pits dies away
below 40 dB before reaching residential buildings.
An important alleviating measure is preserving the surrounding forest. Precise models of the
extent of dust and noise impact have to be compiled.
Extraction of sand, gravel and peat involves
dust and noise, their amount depending on the
applied technology. Environmental impact assessment should include measuring, modelling
and analysis of the extent of the diffusion of
dust and noise in the environment.
2.1 Peat
2.1.1 Dust measurement
The main proportion of peat dust emerges during peat production (milling and collection). In
order to find out the exact amount of dust, peat
dust measurements were carried out on the Sangla and Varudi peat fields during the summer of
2011 (Lehtmets et al., 2012, Fig. 2).
Fine particle PM10 measurements were carried out following the Ambient Air Protection
Act (RT I, 31.12.2010, 31). Fine particle PM10
was measured using the Dust Trak II HC dust
analyzer for 60 min at the 1.5 m level on a tripod.
1. INTRODUCTION
In order to obtain a mining permit, an environmental impact assessment is needed, which
should include an assessment of diffused noise
and dust spread. In this article we observe the
extent of diffusion of noise and dust from exploited gravel and sand deposits to surrounding
areas. Accordingly, we present and analyse potential mitigation measures. The study areas are
Vinni and Tatramäe deposits in Estonia (Fig. 1).
Figure 1: Locations of study areas.

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6th International Conference on Sustainable Development in the
Minerals Industry, 30 June – 3 July 2013, Milos island, Greece
and a truck. Modelling results show that already
300 meters away the dust level will be reduced
below the upper limit of allowed levels (Fig. 5).
2.2.2 Noise modelling
Figure 2: Measuring peat dust in the Sangla peat field.
2.1.2 Noise measurement
Noise levels were measured following the noise
measurement method (RTL 2002, 38, 511) and
each point was measured with noisemeter TES
1254 for 60 minutes.
Noise modelling was done with the CadnaA 4.1
software and the following aspects were taken
in consideration: noise of the machinery, impact
of forest, transport noise, and size and location
of spoils.
One excavator (80 dB), one mobile crusher
(90 dB) and a dump truck (70 dB) were placed
in every pit in the model. Modelling results
show that the noise from the pit dies away below 40 dB before reaching inhabited areas
(Fig. 3). The model indicates that pit noise will
be marginal. The main sources of noise are the
highway and other surrounding roads (Orru
et al., 2012a).
2.2 Sand and gravel
3. RESULTS
Since the sand and gravel deposits are not being
mined at the moment, modelling is needed to
complete the environmental assessment.
3.1 Peat
2.2.1 Dust modelling
Dust modelling was done with the CadnaA 4.1
+ APL software and the following aspects were
taken into consideration: fieldwork results, impact of forest, wind direction and speed (CAA),
and size and location of spoils.
Field measurements were used for creating a
model assuming that in the active equipment in
the pit include an excavator, a mobile crusher
Measurements of peat dust (fine particles less
than 10 micrometer, PM10) diffusing in the ambient during an operating period of 30 minutes
gave results between 0.002 and 0.448 mg/m³.
Diffusion of dust is inversely proportional to
the distance from the source and the spreading
distance itself is in exponential dependence.
Therefore, critical quantities of dust spread only
close to the source.
Based on the acquired knowledge, it is certain that the annual amount of peat dust will not
cause a health hazard to the surrounding population.
3.2 Noise
Noise caused by peat transport from the peat
production areas was measured during the
summer of 2011. A peat production area had the
average noise level of 40 dB.
3.3 Sand and gravel
3.3.1 Vinni gravel pit - predicted cumulative
noise together with a neighbouring race track
Figure 3: The Vinni gravel pit and race track noise model.
Since the Vinni gravel pit is not being exploited,
modelling was used to determine noise levels in

3. 6th International Conference on Sustainable Development in the
Minerals Industry, 30 June – 3 July 2013, Milos island, Greece
Figure 4: Proposed Tatramäe II gravel pit as a major noise
source.
the pit and in neighbouring residential areas
(Fig. 3).
The Estonian Minister of Social Affairs set
the noise levels tolerable for life (4 March 2002,
Regulation No. 42 "Standard Noise Levels for
Residential and Recreational Areas, Residential
and Public Buildings, and Noise Measurement
Techniques"). This regulation permits noise level below 40 (35) dB during the day and below
30 dB at night.
3.3.2 Tatramäe II, Kruusa and Audevälja gravel
pits predicted cumulative effects model
Measurements and modelling results indicate
that when Tatramäe II, Kruusa and Audevälja
gravel pits are simultaneously operating, the
noise level increases by 10 dB (Orru et al.,
2013, Fig. 4).
3.3.3 Cumulative dust model
Dust from the Tatramäe II, Kruusa and
Audevälja gravel pits spreads up to 300 meters
away. As the Tatramäe II gravel pit is located
300 m away from the Kruusa and Audevälja
pits, it is considered as separate dust source
(Fig. 5).
4. MITIGATING METHODS
4.1 Peat dust
An important alleviating measure is preserving
the surrounding forest (preferably to a width of
at least 50 m). The width of a protective forest
zone should be comparable to the height of the
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Figure 5: Cumulative effect of the dust modelled.
trees. Peat transportation machinery must ensure
that the load is well enough closed to minimise
the impact of dust to the environment. Also, for
the protection of employees’ health, peat mining
machinery booths have to be impervious to dust.
In order to reduce the overall amount of dust
during dry and windy periods, pit roads should
be moistened regularly and the maximum speed
of transporting vehicles limited to 30 km/h.
4.2 Peat noise
The most important aspect in peat noise minimisation is the preservation of neighbouring forests, which ideally should be at least 50 meters
wide.
5. CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study show that the usual average noise level in the peat fields is 58.2 dB. If
residential houses are at some distance from the
production area and separated by a protective
forest the noise level there will be low (35-40
dB). The average content of fine peat dust (<10
μm, PM10) is usually 0.002-0.448 mg/m³ per 30
minutes during pit operation.
Measurements in sand and gravel pits show
that the average content of fine dust (<10 μm,
PM10) in ambient air is 0.011 mg/m³ per 60
minutes during pit operation. The permitted daily average limit is 0.5-2 mg/m3 for the working
environment and 0.05 mg/m³ for the living environment.
An important alleviating measure is preserving the surrounding forest (50 m). The width of

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6th International Conference on Sustainable Development in the
Minerals Industry, 30 June – 3 July 2013, Milos island, Greece
a protective forest zone should be comparable to
the height of the trees. Precise models of the extent of dust and noise impact have to be compiled. If other extraction fields exist in the vicinity, cumulative models need to be constructed.
REFERENCES
Orru, M., R. Ramst and H. Milvek, (2013). Tatramäe II
kruusakarjääri mäeeraldise kasutuselevõtuga seotud
keskkonnamõju hindamise (KMH) täiendatud ja
parandatud aruanne (Environmental impact assessment of exploitation of the Tatramäe II gravel pit
claim, improved and amended report, in Estonian).
Tallinn: OÜ Eesti Geoloogiakeskus.
Orru, M., K. Lehtmets, R. Ramst and H. Milvek, (2012a).
Vinni, Vinni II, Vinni III kruusakarjääri mäeeraldiste
kasutuselevõtuga seotud keskkonnamõju hindamise
aruanne (Environmental impact assessment of exploitation of the Vinni, Vinni II and Vinni III gravel pit
claims, in Estonian). Tallinn: OÜ Eesti Geoloogiakeskus.
Orru, M., R. Ramst and H. Milvek, (2012b). Varudi II
turbatootmisala kasutuselevõtuga seotud keskkonnamõju hindamise (KMH) aruanne (Environmental
impact assessment of exploitation of the Varudi II peat
extraction field, in Estonian). Tallinn: OÜ Eesti Geoloogiakeskus.
Lehtmets, K., M. Orru and R. Ramst, (2012). Sangla II
turbatootmisala kasutuselevõtuga seotud keskkonnamõju hindamise täiendatud ja parandatud aruanne
(Environmental impact assessment of exploitation of
the Sangla II peat extraction field, in Estonian). Tallinn: OÜ Eesti Geoloogiakeskus.