This presentation provides an overview of past and current research related to the measurement and characterization of respirable dusts, explosive dusts and combustion-generated aerosols within the mining industry relevant to both health and safety concerns. Regulatory requirements for monitoring and measurement of respirable dusts and diesel particulate matter (DPM), standard techniques and methodologies used to satisfy these requirements, and new and challenging problems associated with these techniques, along with some discussion of novel solutions, will be discussed as they apply to health-related issues. The overview will continue with a similar discussion of dust/aerosol research related to safety problems, such as explosion hazards of dusts, dust inerting requirements and smoke detection.Charles D. ”Dave” Litton received his B.A. in physics from Berea College in Kentucky and his M. S. in physics from the University of Tennessee. Since 1971 he has worked at the Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Pittsburgh, PA, conducting both basic and applied research related to mine health and safety. Mr. Litton has authored over 120 papers in the diverse areas of combustion, fire and explosion safety, fluid dynamics, dust and aerosol technology, remote sensing, and optics and spectroscopy. His current research projects deal with the control and suppression of mine fires, modeling fire growth and flame spread in mines and tunnels, the development of ”smart” fire sensors, and the development of improved techniques for measurement of respirable dusts and diesel particulate matter.