The question was attempted by a good percentage of the candidates that took the examination and they performed average. The mine gases are carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide, sulphur monoxide, Nitrous oxide, Nitrogen monoxide and Dinitrogen oxide.

                  Sicknesses associated with underground mines include; tuberculosis, silicosis, influenza, catarrh, black lung disease, dermatitis, asbestosis, nystagmus, siderosis,  and pneumococmosis.

The reasons for which underground mines should be properly ventiallated include:

• to prevent diseases/spread of diseases
• to avoid suffocation
• to avoid mine explosion
• to create comfort for the workers
• to neutralize noxious gases
• to reduce temperature rise
• to reverse the direction of airborne particles
• to suppress dust

The measures that should be taken to aid ventilation of underground mines are:

• proper planning before mine construction
• creation of ventilation channels in mines
• installation of suitable fans for the purpose of ventilation of mines
• placement of oxygen gas at strategic positions in mines to aid ventilation
• provision of outlet shafts
• periodic ventilation surveys