The Rocky Road to Road Dust Control

For unpaved road dust control there are manyThis also means that for every mile of unpaved
solutions, but are they necessary? According toroad, that a ton of material from that road is
the Environmental Protection Agency, unpavedremoved every year for every automobile that
roads are the largest cause to particulate airtravels on it. Without the help of wind, this
pollution in America. The quantity of dust that isnuisance dust can travel up to 500 feet from the
produced by unpaved roads is five times greaterroad into the air. Not only is this affecting the
than two other contributors, which areinhabitants near a busy unpaved road, but this
construction activities and wind erosion. Not only isdust also negatively impacts the growth of plant
dust from these roads a nuisance, but they havelife. For these reasons the need for road dust
been cited in many cases of respiratory illness forcontrol is real.
humans that live near these conditions.There are many products available for help with
A study from the state of Iowa was conductedunpaved road dust control, but all of them are
to see exactly how much an unpaved road andtemporary solutions. In time, these products will
associated traffic would cause particulate airneed to be reapplied to the area. But with each
pollution. The results were amazing. They showedapplication, approximately 25 percent to 75
that for every vehicle that travels over anpercent of the dust is reduced.
unpaved road for one mile, one ton of dust isSpeed of the vehicle is another important factor
created annually. This is interpreted as for everyin controlling road dust. Control of the speed limits
500 trucks or cars that travel over 100 miles ofis in the hands of the politicians who should be
these roads that 50,000 tons of dust is thrownmade aware of the hazards and dangers involved.
up into the surrounding air every year.