Why Choose Environmental Friendly Dust Control Products?

August 24, 2024

“The Earth is what we all have in common.” – W. E. Berry.

In this age where the environment has become a paramount concern, most industries have leaned towards sustainability as a panacea for operational difficulties. Several industries persistently face the operational challenge of dust control. How we tackle this situation has significantly taken a different turn with the introduction of environmentally friendly dust control products, achieving an appropriate balance between effectiveness and ecological responsibility, including human health.

Understanding Dust Control

Dust control refers to the process under which particulate matter in the air is reduced or eliminated for improved air quality, high visibility, and safety in activities such as construction, mining, agriculture, and transportation. Effective dust management is really critical, especially when it deals with unpaved roads, construction site management, and mining sites.

Dust and its Environmental and Health Consequences

Dust has an immense and lasting effect on both human health and the environment, according to numerous recent studies. Recent reports have shed light on its extent:

• Particulate matter air pollution was responsible for 8 percent of the total disease burden in 2021, making it the single leading contributor among risk factors.
• Long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution contributed to 4.14 million deaths globally, 62% of which could be attributed to air pollution-attributable deaths.
• The World Health Organization estimates that each year, approximately 7 million people die as a result of exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) found in polluted air.

These statistics demonstrate the need for efficient dust control solutions that protect people’s health while simultaneously increasing operational efficiencies and acting as natural air purifiers.

Traditional Dust Control Methods and Their Environmental Consequences

Traditional dust control methods, while effective, often come at an environmental price tag. Many traditional products can have negative ramifications on soil composition, water quality, and local ecosystems. Here, we will delve into some popular traditional solutions and discuss the associated drawbacks.

Chloride-Based Products (e.g., Calcium Chloride and Magnesium Chloride)

• Environmental Consequences: This substance has the potential to leach into soil and groundwater sources, thereby harming vegetation and aquatic life.
• Health Concerns: May cause skin and eye irritation for humans and animals alike, potentially leading to skin or eye allergies in people or animal contacts alike.
• Long-Term Effects: Over time, it could result in reduced soil fertility, leading to soil compaction.

Petroleum-Based Products

• Environmental Consequences: The environmental effects of hydrocarbon contamination in soil and water resources are significant.
• Health Concerns: Potential carcinogenicity as well as respiratory effects caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Sustainability Issues: These resources do not regenerate, contradicting the principles of natural resource conservation.

Water Spraying

• Resource Intensive: Utilisation requires large volumes of water, which could prove problematic in areas with limited resources, such as rivers or reservoirs, providing only short-term dust control that requires constant reapplications to remain effective.
• Environmental Implications: Overdoing this practice could result in soil erosion or runoff issues, as well as increased runoff problems from the overuse of sprayers.

Traditional methods pose environmental hazards while falling short of meeting increasingly stringent regulatory standards for dust control.

Benefits of Environmentally Friendly Dust Control Products

Shifting towards environmentally friendly dust control products brings numerous advantages that go far beyond mere dust suppression.

Safety for People and Wildlife

• Non-Toxic Formulations: Eco-friendly dust control solutions boast non-toxic formulations designed to make them safe for humans, wildlife, and nearby residents, offering greater peace of mind by significantly decreasing health risks related to dust exposure.
• Urban Impact: In urban settings alone, dust suppressant use reduced PM-related life loss by approximately 0.16 years for PM2.5 particles alone (Zhang et al., 2021). This was translated to a reduced economic loss of $120 per individual affected (Zhang et al., 2021).
• Biodegradable Materials: Most environmentally friendly dust control products utilize biodegradable materials and renewable resources that adhere to green building standards and sustainable construction practices, further minimizing their environmental impact.
• Long-Lasting Effects: Because they last longer, they don’t have to be used as often, which is better for the environment. They also capture a lot of pollutants, like PM2.5 and nitrogen oxides, which reduces secondary pollution (Xudong et al., 2018).

Cost-Effectiveness and Regulatory Compliance

• Long-Term Savings: While initial investments may be higher for eco-friendly dust control products, over time, they often prove more economical in terms of maintenance costs, frequency of application frequency reduction, and reduced operating expenses.
• Regulatory Compliance: Dust control regulations across industries and regions are becoming increasingly strict. By adopting environmentally friendly dust control products early enough, companies may better position themselves to meet current and future compliance regulations, possibly saving themselves costly fines, penalties, or operational disruption associated with non-compliance.
• Economic Benefits: With increased dust suppression solution use, willingness-to-pay (WTP) for improved air quality has also seen an upswing. This indicates an expanding understanding of their economic benefits (Zhang et al., 2021). Furthermore, this shift reinforces the significance of investing in eco-friendly dust suppression solutions.

Envirotac: A Leader in Environmentally Friendly Dust Control

When it comes to environmentally friendly dust control polymers and solutions, Envirotac stands out as an innovator, with polymers that effectively capture soil particles at a nano level for enhanced durability and effectiveness.

Real-World Applications of Envirotac’s Products

The U.S. military has long trusted Envirotac products as dust control and soil stabilization solutions. For nearly two decades, Envirotac’s innovative methodology and product reliability have earned their trust as service partners of military operations across America.

Justin Vermillion joined EP&A Envirotac, Inc. in 2003 when the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps 15th MEU approached the company for help with dust control and soil stabilization for Camp Rhino, which is located in Afghanistan’s Registan Desert. This request made history.
Justin Vermillion responded swiftly and efficiently, traveling quickly to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, California, and overseeing the loading of over 5,000 gallons of soil stabilization polymer into 55-gallon drums for transport on C-17 aircraft before parachuting these materials to Camp Rhino to stabilize sandy soil and control dust in this forward operating base.

Effective in extreme conditions, EP&A Envirotac’s dust control and soil stabilization polymers earned themselves the name “Rhino Snot” from Marines using it on the ground. Because of this success story, EP&A Envirotac, Inc. became the sole provider of dust control and soil stabilization polymers during Operation Enduring Freedom, outperforming any competitors that entered their ranks in that capacity.

Comparative Advantages of Conventional Methods

Environmental-friendly dust control products like those offered by Envirotac demonstrate significant advantages when compared with more conventional dust-control strategies:

Environmental Implications of Traditional Methods:

• Chlorine-based products have the potential to leach into soil and groundwater sources, potentially harming aquatic life as well as vegetation.
• Petroleum products contain hydrocarbons that may pollute both areas.

Longevity and Effectiveness:

• Traditional Methods: Water spraying offers temporary relief; frequent reapplication may be necessary, and chloride-based products may become ineffective following rainfall.
• Eco-friendly Solutions: Polymers form long-term bonds between soil particles and polymers, decreasing application frequency while still offering long-term effectiveness, even following rainfall events.

Health and Safety:

• For traditional methods to be safe, they must pose no inhalation or skin contact risks to workers; petroleum-based products could release potentially toxic VOCs.
• Environmentally friendly solutions are non-toxic formulations that are safe for both surrounding communities and wildlife.

Resource Use:

• Water spraying can be resource-intensive and unsustainable in areas with scarce supplies of freshwater.
• Eco-friendly products’ efficient application process conserves both resources, such as water, which aligns with the principle of natural resource conservation.

Soil Impact:

• Traditional Methods (chloride-based products) can lead to soil compaction and reduced fertility over time.
• Environmentally friendly solutions maintain optimal soil structure and fertility levels, promoting healthy vegetation growth.

Versatility:

• Traditional methods can only address specific soils and environmental conditions.
• Companies like Envirotac can customize solutions to a wide range of soil types and environmental conditions, allowing for broader applicability.

Environmental Regulations:

• Traditional methods may fall short of environmental regulations.
• Most modern companies’ products are created to meet or exceed current and expected standards and reduce compliance risk.

Cost-Effectiveness:

• Traditional methods may initially cost less, yet often require repeated applications and higher long-term environmental remediation costs.
• Envirotac’s eco-friendly dust control solutions surpass traditional methods in several key performance metrics and offer superior dust management solutions for modern dust challenges.

Industry-Specific Applications

Environmentally friendly dust control products have proven successful across industries:

Military and Defense

• Environmentally friendly dust control products, such as those from Envirotac excel in military applications, as demonstrated by the Camp Rhino case study, providing essential dust control and soil stabilization solutions in extreme environments.

Construction

• Eco-friendly dust control polymers have proven particularly helpful on urban construction sites where dust control is paramount to worker and community health by significantly decreasing airborne particulates that pollute indoor environments while improving air quality and lowering cleanup costs.

Mining

• Mines that use eco-friendly products to control dust on haul roads and ore stockpiles to improve visibility, reduce equipment wear, and ensure optimal operational safety have greatly benefited from this innovative solution.

Agriculture

• Dust control is an ongoing challenge on farms, particularly during dry seasons. Eco-friendly solutions help keep airborne particulate matter to a minimum, preventing damage to crops while supporting healthy growth and healthier soil conditions.

Conclusion

As industries worldwide work towards sustainable industrial practices and sustainable environmental solutions, the choice of environmentally friendly dust control products like those offered by Envirotac is evident. By choosing these eco-friendly construction materials and alternatives, businesses not only contribute to air quality improvement and environmental protection strategies, but they also often realize long-term cost savings and operational benefits. Whether you are managing construction, military operations, or agriculture operations, choosing environmentally friendly dust control products is an investment in both the future of your industry and that of our planet.

Make the change you know will benefit both yourself and the planet by switching to environmentally-friendly dust control products like Envirotac’s innovative dust control polymers that meet all effective dust mitigation standards while being mindful of environmental stewardship. It’s time for action! It’s time to implement some significant changes in your dust mitigation practices! Whether in construction, mining, or agriculture industries with dust issues, it could make all the difference to adopt them now!

Save yourself from suffering worksite health and safety incidents and contribute towards cleaner environments now by getting in touch with EP&A Envirotac Inc. to find out their eco-friendly dust suppression solutions can make a difference to your operations and benefit all those around you—your workers, community, and planet will thank you.