Learn how airborne dust generation can be reduced through prevention activities in construction projects. Expert LEED Green Associate Exam question explained.
Table of Contents
Question
Which construction pollution can be reduced by prevention activities?
A. Infiltration
B. Blackwater creation
C. Airborne dust generation
D. High-reflectance materials
Answer
C. Airborne dust generation
Explanation
One type of construction pollution that can be reduced by prevention activities is airborne dust generation. Airborne dust can be generated by various construction activities, such as excavation, demolition, grading, hauling, and vehicle traffic.
Airborne dust can have negative impacts on the air quality, human health, and climate. Airborne dust can contribute to respiratory problems, allergies, asthma, and eye irritation for workers and nearby residents. Airborne dust can also reduce the visibility, increase the risk of accidents, and damage the equipment and materials.
Airborne dust can also affect the climate by absorbing or reflecting solar radiation, altering the cloud formation and precipitation patterns, and influencing the carbon cycle.
Some of the prevention activities that can reduce airborne dust generation during construction are:
- Covering or wetting the exposed soil and stockpiles
- Using water sprays or misters to suppress the dust
- Installing wind fences or barriers around the site
- Applying mulch, straw, or vegetation to stabilize the soil
- Sweeping or vacuuming the paved areas and roads
- Limiting the speed and frequency of vehicles
- Using low-emission or electric vehicles and equipment
- Implementing a dust control plan and monitoring the dust levels
Prevention activities during construction can help reduce airborne dust pollution at the jobsite. Airborne dust consists of particulate matter that becomes suspended in the air due to activities like demolition, excavation, vehicle traffic on unpaved surfaces, and wind blowing over disturbed soil.
Some best practices to minimize dust generation include:
- Phasing construction to limit the amount of exposed soil at any given time
- Stabilizing disturbed areas with mulch, vegetation, or other coverings as soon as possible
- Regularly wetting down surfaces using water trucks or sprinklers
- Washing vehicles before they leave the site to avoid tracking out dirt
- Properly covering and securing loads during transport
- Paving, applying water, or using dust suppressants on haul roads
By implementing a combination of these preventive measures, construction projects can effectively reduce airborne dust levels and limit particulate air pollution. The other options are not directly reduced by preventive activities:
A. Infiltration refers to air leakage into buildings and is not a type of construction pollution.
B. Blackwater creation refers to wastewater containing fecal matter and is not directly tied to construction activities.
D. High-reflectance materials help reduce the heat island effect but are not a pollutant that prevention activities aim to limit.
Therefore, airborne dust generation is the construction pollutant that can be best reduced by taking preventive measures during the construction process.
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