Residents Sound the Alarm Over Possible Pollutants in Construction Site Dust
A new residential construction project is being built in Eagle Mountain, Utah, and residents are very unhappy about it. No, it’s not the increased strain on the infrastructure (or even the noise from the construction itself) that has them hopping mad, but instead an annoying byproduct of all the movement.
Residents in Eagle Mountain say the new construction project is stirring up too much dust, and they are worried about the possible negative effects it could be having on their health, according to ABC4. And it’s not just their own health that they are concerned about, according to the outlet. Residents also want to know what impact all these air particles are having on their four-legged friends.
However, they say that requests they’ve made to both the developer and the contractor have gone unanswered, prompting them to reach out to local media. But not everyone is sympathetic to their plight.
On TikTok, many are calling the requests and concerns hypocritical, asking the homeowners how worried they were when their own homes were being built in the desert region.
Residents Say New Construction Project Stirs Up Too Much Dust
@utahabc4 A construction project for a new housing development in Eagle Mountain is causing quite the controversy for those who live around it. To homeowners’ surprise, it is not the noise that is upsetting them, but instead, an abnormal amount of dust that has been kicked up into the air and is finding its way into their homes. Learn more at ABC4.com. #construction #work #utah #eaglemountain ♬ original sound – ABC4 Utah
Homeowners claim the Ivory Homes project, which is being built by contractor Hadco Construction, is stirring up an unusual amount of dust. This has those who live in the neighborhood worried about what possible health concerns they could face after breathing in the air particles.
And their concerns aren’t just because of what they can see in the air, but also because of the effects they claim they are already experiencing. Take, for example, resident Don Chase, who says that the construction project seems to be making his wife sick.
“My wife actually has asthma, and it’s exacerbated the asthma,” he told ABC4. “She’s now taking medication daily to keep the effects down.”
Meanwhile, Kaylee Anderson says she’s too worried about the dust to let her kids play outside. “I have three kids. They’re all under five, and they’re like constantly wanting to go outside, but they’re always coughing,” she told the outlet, saying she worries about whether the dust is behind the coughing.
Homeowners Want the Construction Site to Use More Water
It’s hard to imagine anyone in the desert advocating for more water use, but that’s exactly what these homeowners told ABC4 that they wanted. Chase suggested that they use a water truck to wet down the fill that they are using to keep the dust down when they move the dirt.
According to the outlet, the city is looking into the complaints and has reached out to both the contractor and the residents to see what can be done about the concerns. “The city acknowledges that dust is a common issue during construction activity,” a statement from the city said.
But while the city may be looking into things, people on TikTok seem a little less concerned. “Buy a home in a new development and then complain about dust,” one person wrote on ABC4’s post about the story. “Makes sense.”
“Living in a desert comes with dust,” another added.
“Were they complaining when they had their home built?” yet another chimed in.
Can Construction Dust Cause Health Issues?
All the counterarguments aside, do these residents have reason to worry? According to Phase Associates, the answer is maybe. While construction dust of any kind can cause respiratory irritation and trouble breathing, certain types of construction dust can present health hazards. The website notes that silica dust, wood dust, asbestos, and general dust are some of the different types of dust that can be stirred up, and each comes with its own set of health concerns.
Whether any of those apply to the construction site in question remains to be seen, but for now it’s obvious that some homeowners are struggling with the dust around their homes, which likely makes this a major problem in their eyes. Hopefully, they can get some answers soon.
