Staff and Postgraduate Students
Miss Sabina Michnowicz, BSc. (Hons)
Contact Miss Sabina Michnowicz (email at s.a.k.michnowicz@durham.ac.uk)
PhD project: The occupational and environmental health hazard of quarried volcanic deposits
This research aims to evaluate the potential occupational and environmental health hazard of quarried volcanic deposits. It is trans-disciplinary; incorporating mineralogical characterisation, in vitro toxicological assays and the role of social factors in health and safety policy. Previous studies have shown that volcanic deposits are likely to contain potentially-toxic components such as fine-grained crystalline silica and iron-rich particles; the potential respiratory hazard to quarry workers however, has not yet been explored. Mineralogical and toxicological analyses of the ash will shed light on which types of ash are toxic and which mineralogical characteristics are responsible; this will help to shape health and safety recommendations. In areas where little or no legislation exists, these recommendations will be made in discussion with those affected and local managers; with a view to the measures being appropriate and practical to the community they serve.
Sabina Quarry Picture
Publications
Books: sections
- Grattan, J., Michnowicz, S. & Rabartin, R. (2007). Throwing Light on "times of darkness", the long reach of cold rain and hot fogs. In Living Under the Shadow: the Cultural Impacts of Volcanic Eruptions. Grattan, J. & Torrence, R. United States of America: Left Coast Press. 153-174.
Journal papers: academic
- Horwell, C., Le Blond, J., Michnowicz, S. & Cressey, G. (2009). Cristobalite in a rhyolitic lava dome: evolution of ash hazard. Bulletin of Volcanology