Atmospheric emissions of hazardous substances during open pit mining are mainly associated with mechanical (dust) and chemical (CO*, NO*, SO*, etc.) impurities. The main sources of dust formation and dust emission into the atmosphere during open pit mining of mineral deposits are blasting, drilling, excavation, transportation of rock mass, stockpiling and crushing. In addition, such sources as dumps, beach areas of tailings storage and hydraulic dumps, and erosion zones are active both during work and after the termination of the work of the open pit. The search for rational means and methods of reducing dust and gas emissions into the atmosphere is an urgent task, especially for open pits. Here, the most promising and technological are wet methods, implemented in the process of moistening the dust-forming raw materials and dusty material, irrigation of them and the hovering dust by solutions and binding by liquid gel-like substances. Analysis of means and methods of dust control in open pits indicates the expediency of using wet methods with intensive dispersion of water solutions in the warm period of the year and snowmaking in the cold period at the main technological processes with stationary and semi-stationary sources. At the present time at the Department of Ecology, Aerology and Occupational Safety, laboratory research is being carried out to find an effective binder for coagulation of dust-forming raw materials and dusty material into pellets during their irrigation.
