Dust

Dust emissions are carefully managed by operators to ensure they do not exceed acceptable limits. Mines and quarries use mitigation measures, such as water trucks to keep on-site roadways damp, and sprayers on crushing plants, to prevent dust from rising into the air. They also place monitoring stations at their property boundaries to measure air quality and ensure that dust is not an issue for neighbours.

The annual average limit of particulate matter (dust) at the property line of a mine or quarry is 60-70 μg/m3 – the equivalent of about half a cup of dust in a building the size of Toronto’s Skydome. This limit ensures air quality on and around mine and quarry sites is safe for human health and the environment.