Dust contamination is a recognized and unavoidable consequence of a blasting quarry.
Dust is a solid particle which becomes airborne.
The smaller the size, the more hazardous it is to a person's health.
"80-90% of particles emitted by diesel engines are smaller than 2.0 μm, small enough to penetrate the alveoli (very small air sacs in the lungs). Long-term DPM exposure has been associated with adverse respiratory and cardiovascular effects." (Public Health study)
The more continuous a person's exposure, the great the risk.
Quite the risk for anyone living in or visiting the area.
Here is an example of a dust cloud from a quarry, one of several occurences in 2022 at that site.
Nelson Aggregates Blast June 2 2022 - YouTube
Sources of Negative Air Quality Impacts:
- Preparing the site
- Blasting
- Extracting the dolstone/limestone
- Drilling, loading and hauling the rock
- Crushing/screening operations
- Processing and Other Equipment on the Site
- Road Traffic Dust
- Truck Exhaust on the Site and on the Roads
- Truck engine exhaust
Contaminants:
- Particulate Matter, size PM10
- Particulate Matter, size PM2.5
- Crystalline silica
- Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM)
- Nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2)
- Volatile organic compounds (VOC)
- Benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P)
- Benzene
Potential health effects:
- Cancer
- Serious Respiratory issues
- Cardiovascular problems
- Increased risk for people with asthma or lung disease
As indicated on the US National Institutes of Health site, diesel exhaust particulates can "reasonably (be) anticipated to be a human carcinogen."