Road Dust Control

Posts Tagged ‘respiratory system’

Fugitive dust is a specific problem that is created by people when interacting with their natural environment. This is not a manmade pollutant. This dust is not emitted from any chimney, smoke stack or vent. Instead, this is a small solid or liquid particle that arises from the soil every time a person, animal, wind or object passes over it and disturbs it. A good example of this is a sand storm.

Fugitive dust is a persistent challenge in the dry areas of the western part of the US. This issue develops wherever long dry conditions exist and the moisture has dried from the top soil.

This has become an area of concern for those who suffer from respiratory problems. The size of the average dust particle is 10 micrometers or less. This small size particle can remain airborne for days or even weeks, depending on the wind conditions. Because of the particle’s small size, it has the ability of entering the respiratory system of people. This is the reason for concern. This small, but hard particle can damage the lungs and cause long term respiratory problems.

Read the rest of this entry »

Environmental protection officials in Beijing have had an easy time since the Olympics last summer.

The city recorded fewer polluted days following its smog-cleaning campaign for the Olympics, and authorities last month announced that the city’s air quality has reached the highest level in decades after meeting its annual target for "blue sky" days one month ahead of schedule, for two consecutive years.

But the fact that Beijing’s air is now clean is bad news for reporters.

Read the rest of this entry »