This document discusses dust control practices for construction sites to reduce dust from disturbed soil surfaces. Common dust control measures include sprinkling or irrigation to moisten soil, establishing vegetative cover, applying mulch, installing wind breaks, tilling soil to bring clods to the surface, using stone, and applying chemical soil stabilizers. The most effective method depends on site conditions, but regular inspection and reapplication is usually needed to maintain dust control.
This document discusses dust control practices for construction sites to reduce dust from disturbed soil surfaces. Common dust control measures include sprinkling or irrigation to moisten soil, establishing vegetative cover, applying mulch, installing wind breaks, tilling soil to bring clods to the surface, using stone, and applying chemical soil stabilizers. The most effective method depends on site conditions, but regular inspection and reapplication is usually needed to maintain dust control.
This document discusses dust control practices for construction sites to reduce dust from disturbed soil surfaces. Common dust control measures include sprinkling or irrigation to moisten soil, establishing vegetative cover, applying mulch, installing wind breaks, tilling soil to bring clods to the surface, using stone, and applying chemical soil stabilizers. The most effective method depends on site conditions, but regular inspection and reapplication is usually needed to maintain dust control.
This document discusses dust control practices for construction sites to reduce dust from disturbed soil surfaces. Common dust control measures include sprinkling or irrigation to moisten soil, establishing vegetative cover, applying mulch, installing wind breaks, tilling soil to bring clods to the surface, using stone, and applying chemical soil stabilizers. The most effective method depends on site conditions, but regular inspection and reapplication is usually needed to maintain dust control.
Dust Control Minimum Measure: Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control Subcategory: Erosion Control
Description Dust control practices reduce the potential for construction activities to generate dust from disturbed soil surfaces. Construction sites can have large areas of soil disturbance and open space from which wind can pick up dust particles. Airborne particles pose a dual threat to the environment and human health. Dust that the wind carries off-site can impact nearby waterbodies due to direct deposition or transport by stormwater. In addition, dust from construction sites increases the levels of particle air pollution, also called particulate matter (PM), in the form of PM 2.5 (fine inhalable particles with diameters generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller) and PM 10 (inhalable particles with diameters that are A truck equipped with a spray system can spray water generally 10 micrometers and smaller) in surrounding throughout a construction site and prevent dust from being transported off-site. areas (Azarmi et al., 2016; Muleski et al., 2005), which can contribute to respiratory health problems and create areas at a time. Construction staff responsible for dust inhospitable working environments. control should determine which practices accommodate their needs according to specific site and weather conditions. The following is a brief list of example control Applicability measures and design criteria: Dust control measures apply to any construction site where major soil disturbances or heavy equipment Sprinkling/irrigation. Sprinkling the ground surface construction activities—such as clearing, excavation, with water until it is moist is an effective dust control demolition or excessive vehicle traffic—occur. method for most sites, particularly on haul roads and Earthmoving activities, particularly transport of cut and other traffic routes where other dust control methods fill materials, are the major source of dust from may not be possible. construction sites (Muleski et al., 2005), but traffic and Vegetative cover. In areas that construction staff do general disturbances can also be significant contributors not designate for vehicle traffic, vegetative cover (WA Dept. of Ecology, 1992). Dust control measures are reduces wind velocity at the ground surface, thus especially important in arid or semiarid regions, where reducing the potential for dust to become airborne. soil can become extremely dry and vulnerable to Mulch. Mulching can be a quick and effective dust transport by high winds. The most effective dust control control method for a recently disturbed area. measures for a site depend on its topography and land cover, soil characteristics, and expected rainfall. Wind breaks. Wind breaks are barriers (either natural or constructed) that reduce the velocity of wind through a site, thereby reducing the number of Siting and Design Considerations particles the wind suspends. Wind breaks can be The quantity of dust generation and transport depends trees or shrubs that construction staff leave in place on the amount of exposed soil. Therefore, when during site clearing or constructed barriers such as designing a dust control plan, design engineers and wind fences, snow fences, tarp curtains, hay bales, construction staff can greatly reduce dust generation by crate walls or sediment walls. sequencing activities in a way that disturbs only small
https://www.epa.gov/npdes EPA-832-F-21-028R - - - - December 2021 Stormwater Best Management Practice—Dust — Control
Tillage. Deep tillage in large open areas brings soil on the type of mulch and the application rate clods to the surface where they rest on top of dust, (MPCA, 2019). Mulch is effective on sites that will re- preventing it from becoming airborne. establish vegetation and in areas where slopes have Stone. Stone can be an effective dust deterrent for less than 1 foot of elevation change for every 2.5 construction roads and entrances or serve as mulch feet of horizontal change. Mulch can be effective in in areas that cannot establish vegetation. areas with steep slopes in combination with tackifiers or other stabilization methods. Chemical soil stabilization (palliatives). There are several different categories of chemical soil Sprinkling/irrigation. Water is one of the most treatments: water absorbing, organic non-petroleum, common ways to control dust on a construction site. organic petroleum, synthetic polymer emulsion, It is effective in heavily trafficked areas, such as concentrated liquid stabilizer and clay additive construction roads where other methods are not (Jones, 2017). Factors to consider when selecting a feasible. However, water requires frequent chemical application for dust suppression include reapplications to remain effective. biodegradability, soil suitability, and impacts to Wind breaks. The effectiveness of wind breaks wildlife and environmentally sensitive areas. depends primarily on their size and permeability. As a general rule, for each foot of vertical height, an 8- Limitations to 10-foot deposition zone develops on the leeward side of the barrier. Highly permeable barriers are Applying water to exposed soils can be time-intensive less effective than more impermeable barriers. and—if done to excess—could result in discharge from Stone. Gravel can reduce soil losses by 95 percent the site or vehicles tracking mud onto public roads. compared to unstabilized soils (MPCA, 2019). Excessive use of water can also be inappropriate in water-scarce regions. Misuse of chemical applications Spray-on chemical soil treatments (palliatives). The can create hazardous working conditions, increase effectiveness of polymer stabilization methods is surface water pollution from discharges or contaminate highly variable and depends on site characteristics, groundwater. Excessive use of chemical applications climate and the specific chemical soil treatment. might also present a health risk. Sites should follow manufacturer specifications to achieve maximum effectiveness. Maintenance Considerations Cost Considerations Inspection and maintenance requirements are unique for each site because dust controls depend on specific Costs for chemical dust control measures can vary methods, site conditions and weather conditions. widely depending on the specific needs of the site and Generally, dust control measures involving the the desired level of dust control. Water requires application of either water or chemicals require more significantly more frequent reapplication than chemical monitoring than structural or vegetative controls to stabilizers, as well as specialized machinery. Therefore, remain effective. Construction staff should consult while water itself is inexpensive, costs associated with manufacturer specifications for chemical stabilizers. If using water for dust control may be significantly higher the site uses structural controls, regular inspection and than other methods (Jones, 2017). Chemical soil maintenance are necessary to ensure that the controls treatments typically only require seasonal or annual remain effective. application, thus resulting in potential labor and equipment cost savings. However, depending on the type of chemical, the substance may require special Effectiveness storage and application equipment. Once established, Mulch. Mulch can reduce wind erosion by 75 to 95 vegetation can be more cost-effective for long-term percent compared to unstabilized soils, depending stabilization.
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Additional Resources Maryland Department of the Environment. (2011). for stormwater management, land development and 2011 Maryland standards and specifications for soil urban stream protection (3rd ed.). erosion and sediment control. City of Portland Oregon. (2008). Erosion and Montana Department of Transportation. (2015). sediment control manual. Erosion and sediment control best management Washington State Department of Transportation. practices manual. (2019). Temporary erosion and sediment control Ohio Department of Natural Resources. (2014). manual. Rainwater and land development—Ohio’s standards
Additional Information
Additional information on related practices and the Phase II MS4 program can be found at EPA’s National Menu of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Stormwater website
References Azarmi, F., Kumar, P., Marsh, D., & Fuller, G. (2016). Assessment of the long-term impacts of PM 10 and PM 2.5 particles from construction works on surrounding areas. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 18(2), 208–221.
Jones, D. (2017). Guidelines for the selection, specification and application of chemical dust control and stabilization treatments on unpaved roads. University of California Pavement Research Center.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). (2019). Erosion prevention practices—natural and synthetic mulches. In Minnesota stormwater manual.
Muleski, G. E., Cowherd, C., & Kinsey, J. S. (2005). Particulate emissions from construction activities. Journal of Air & Waste Management Association, 55(6), 772–783.
Washington State Department of Ecology (WA Dept. of Ecology). (1992). Stormwater management manual for the Puget Sound basin.
Disclaimer This fact sheet is intended to be used for informational purposes only. These examples and references are not intended to be comprehensive and do not preclude the use of other technically sound practices. State or local requirements may apply.
