Experimental sampling of diesel exhaust nanoparticles using a Naneos Partector 2 instrument has been conducted in an underground polymetallic mine. This sampling was conducted within 12 minutes in the operator open cabin of the mine face LHD loader R1700 (engine model Cat@C11 ACERT, 241 kW, Tier 3/Stage IIIA Equivalent Engine) working in the active ore heading area. The aim of this experimental sampling was to determine the exposures of the cabin operator to diesel exhaust nanoparticles. The LHD loader operated in a 70 meters length drift (4.3x4.2m), where the auxiliary ventilation velocity was around 0.5 m/s. As a result, the averaged data for Lung Deposited Surface Area (LDSA) and diameter were 7 470 µm²/cm³ and 90 nm, respectively. The results of this study suggest that Naneos Partector 2 sampling instrument can be employed in polymetallic mines for monitoring workplace surveillance. This study offers important data on particle surface area. As the surface contact between the particles and human cells is crucial, particle surface area might be a new approach to investigate particle toxicity.
