Related News
Home » Opinion » Chinese Views
More can be done to clear air of construction dust
Print Edition
Several days ago, I rode my scooter over to one of the bank sub-branches on Anyuan Road. As I went inside to take care of a bill, I passed a huge pile of construction rubble dumped in the middle of the sidewalk. Within a matter of minutes, my errand was complete and I was ready to leave. Unfortunately, things had changed out on the street.
A front-end loader was working away at the rubble mound outside, scooping up the debris and loading it into a waiting dump truck. The process kicked up a huge cloud of dust, forcing passersby to cover their mouths and noses as they quickened their steps. I was stuck inside the bank, and could do nothing but watch the raging dust storm outside, while my scooter was slowly enveloped by a thick patina of grit and powder.
But my own experience was but a mere trifle compared to three workers who were present on the scene to help shovel rubble into the loader’s waiting scoop.
These workers had no goggles, no masks and no other safety equipment to protect them from the toxic plume.
The huge amount of dust thus kicked up is both an annoyance and a threat to public health.
One granite polisher I knew personally died in his late 30s.
It was lung cancer, preceded by pneumoconiosis (also known as black lung disease, a degenerative lung condition caused by inhaling dust).
For those who haul rubble, polish granite, clean streets or work in construction sites, there is plenty of evidence to indicate that lung disease is a real danger. Of course, for the rest of us, construction dust is also a major source of pollution in cities like Shangahi, where old and not-so-old buildings are constantly being knocked down and replaced with new ones.
Consequences
Indeed, the Chinese media has uncovered plenty of stories about rubble-haulers being diagnosed with various lung diseases. Across the country, it’s difficult to tell how many people have suffered from dust-related ailments, although a Xinhua report, citing official data, says lung-cancer deaths have increased by 465 percent over the last three decades in China. Other reports also identify rising dust from construction sites and road traffic as one of the third largest contributors to PM2.5 pollution, which is known to carry a variety of long-term health risks.
New York City’s experience with toxic dust is also worth mentioning. The destruction wrought by the September 11 attacks kicked up a massive cloud of asbestos, lead and other pulverized toxins. By 2013, more than 1,100 people who worked at or lived near the World Trade Center had been diagnosed with cancer, according to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The impact of this attack was brought to the world’s attention recently when Marcy Borders — known to many as “Dust Lady,” for her iconic dust-covered portrait, taken just moments after the attack — died of stomach cancer. She was 42.
We have plenty of rules in Shanghai aimed to protect public from dust. These laws say that rubble piles which cannot be cleared within 48 hours must be covered. Also, to prevent dust from rising, work crews are required to spray such piles with water before transporting them. Those who fail to abide by relevant rules could face fines up to 20,000 yuan (US$3,132).
Xinmin Evening News reported on September 10 that dump truck on Longwu Road were found to be kicking up an excessive amount of dust. They were ordered to be washed before departing from their construction sites.
The right to enforce such regulations is bestowed on a host of bodies and agencies, including the city’s construction, civil engineering, public security, public sanitation and transportation authorities — yet dust is a problem we are all too familiar with. I can only hope that this time my complain will reach receptive ears.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
