Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie | Dust: A nuisance or a health hazard?

Recently, I encountered the South Coast Highway Improvement Project (SCHIP) roadworks on my way to Bull Bay. Apart from the poor state of the roads, I noticed a grey film covering anything close to the road - trees, light posts, cars, shops, houses, clothes lines. Pedestrians walking along the road or waiting for transportation tried to protect themselves with whatever they had handy - masks, old T-shirts, or just their hands. Homes along the roads had their windows tightly shut.

The response from Everald Warmington, minister with responsibility for works, has been to blast subcontractors that have not lived up to their responsibility and clause of their contract for the dust nuisance ( The Gleaner, June 7, 2022). The prime minister gave “… very strict instructions …” to the National Works Agency (NWA) to ensure that contractors respect the rights of residents to enjoy free movement and use of the roadways without undue discomfort ( The Gleaner, July 19, 2022). Despite these statements, the dust issue continues to be a problem. In early February, there was another protest by residents of Bull Bay complaining about the unbearable dust levels from the roadworks.

Dust is a common air pollutant generated by many different activities such as roadworks, construction, mining and quarrying, exhaust emissions from vehicles, the burning of bush and garbage. Also referred to as particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), dust can vary in size from visible to invisible. Depending on the size, these particles can travel deep into the body and cause irreparable harm to human health. Despite this, dust is often treated as merely an inconvenience. In fact, in Jamaica, under the Public Health Act, dust is referred to as a nuisance rather than a health hazard.

IMPACTS OF DUST

The World Health Organization has stated that there is ‘no safe level’ for PM10 and PM2.5. When inhaled, large dust particles (PM10 or greater) tend to be trapped in the nose and mouth and can be readily breathed out or swallowed. Smaller dust particles (PM2.5 or less) stay longer in the air and can travel farther. They are more dangerous to health because they travel deeper into the lungs and can even be absorbed directly into the blood stream. Smaller particles impact not only respiratory and cardiovascular health, but strong evidence is mounting that they can result in irreversible damage to the brain and cognitive functioning (Gao et al. 2021 and refs. therein). Health problems can result from both short and long-term exposure to particulates.

MEASURES TO MANAGE DUST

Strategies for controlling dust can be grouped into prevention or dust reduction (e.g. sealed roads on construction sites), administrative control (e.g. dust monitoring) or engineering control (e.g. dust suppression systems). The most popular method of dust control where prevention is not possible is water suppression, but these measures are not always adequate. The use of water nowadays is an issue due to water shortages linked to a changing climate.

The NRCA (Air Quality Regulations, 2006) and the NRCA (Ambient Air Quality Standards) Regulations, 1996 provide the framework for regulating emissions from major and significant point sources. They are intended to reinforce the responsibility of the Government to ensure that the ambient air quality protects human and environmental health. The existing regulations to control dust pollution, however, are inadequate. The regulations listed previously consider only sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, total suspended particulates and PM10. They do not cover PM2.5, although the dangers posed by these smaller particles have been known since the early 1980s.

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) recognised this as a gap many years ago, yet the Emissions Policy Framework, 2021 still does not provide a timeline regarding the amendment of the regulations. Even where the laws and regulations exist, however, they are not adequately enforced. This has been demonstrated by the many road work projects in communities impacted by mining and quarrying. Additionally, burning and coal production in some residential areas remains a concern for many in rural and semi-rural communities.

Recent studies show that a key factor in reducing dust pollution is educating workers and contractors on the adverse effects. The study demonstrated that once workers/ contractors were aware of the consequences of dust hazards and understood their role in reducing dust pollution, it triggered personal feelings of moral obligations to ‘do the right thing’.

MORE THAN REGULATIONS NEEDED

A quick online search about air quality in Jamaica will reveal many articles published over the years outlining concerns of poor air quality in Jamaica. Dust complaints are just not taken seriously. The Ministry of Health and Wellness has recently defined a new vision statement “Healthy People, Healthy Environment”. For this vision to be realised, air pollution/ dust pollution needs to be addressed urgently.

Clean air is a constitutional right for all Jamaicans, and the Government must do more to maintain that right. Actions such as fast-tracking amendments to the Air Quality Regulations and Standards, greater monitoring and enforcement of existing air quality regulations, and greater public education and awareness on the dangers of poor air quality should all be urgently implemented.

Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie, PhD, is an environmental scientist and the CEO of the Jamaica Environment Trust. Send feedback to jamaicaenvironmenttrust@gmail.com.