Construction pollution happens when harmful substances, like those used in demolition, are made and released because of construction work. These harmful substances can be dust and pollutants released into the water. All forms of construction pollution must be addressed and managed. This is because air pollution, for example, causes several respiratory illnesses such as lung cancer while water pollution contaminates water bodies threatening humans and aquatic animals. Acquiring BossTek dust suppression equipment can help reduce the impact of the dust generated. In this post, we will look at all the types of construction pollution, their causes, and how to prevent each one.
Types of Construction Pollution
There are several types of construction pollution:
Air pollution
General air pollution is the release of harmful substances such as smoke and dust into the air. In the construction industry, air pollution is the release of dust and harmful particles and emissions such as smoke generated by machinery and vehicles and the use of hazardous materials. This is often caused by a lack of proper dust control measures such as the availability of a dust suppression system on construction sites. The dust and harmful particles are then released into the environment. Air pollution if not managed can be fatal to those working in the construction site, the environment, and nearby communities.
Water pollution
This involves the release of harmful and contaminated substances into the water. Chemicals, oil, and sediments used or made on a construction site can be among these things. Lack of proper waste management in construction sites leads to harmful substances being disposed of in open and unsanitary landfills. This leads to the contamination of drinking water and the spread of infectious diseases. Erosion and sedimentation can be caused by things like clearing away plants, grading the land, and digging a site. These contaminants make the water unsafe for human or animal consumption.
Soil Pollution
Soil pollution or land pollution is the contamination of soil caused by the release of pollutants in concentrations that pose a risk to humans, plants, and wild animals. This is caused by several construction activities such as improper disposal of waste and chemicals. This kind of pollution lowers the quality of the soil impairing development, and farming, and thus threatening humans, animals, and plants.
How to Prevent Construction Pollution
There are different ways to prevent construction pollution such as:
Adopting sustainable construction methods
Adopting practices such as the use of materials that generate less waste and dust as well as using energy-efficient construction methods can help reduce air, soil, and water pollution.
Implementing laws and regulations
There should be laws and regulations that can limit the amount of waste that can be generated on a construction site. These laws should also govern the kind of materials that can be used in construction activities. Additionally, the laws should set standards for how waste is handled and disposed of. Regular inspections of the construction site should follow this to prevent a violation.
Investing in research
By studying how construction affects people, animals, and the environment, new technologies can be made that try to lessen these effects.
Pollution of any form poses a danger to the entire ecosystem. It reduces the quality of soil, makes water unsafe for consumption, and leads to the spread of infectious diseases. As such, it is crucial to address the causes of construction pollution and come up with ways to mitigate them such as setting laws and regulations that govern construction activities.
