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.