SERA
RARE Project Summary
Dust Suppressants and Water Quality
USING SCIENCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN U.S. EPA REGION 9, THE PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGION
Treated Arizona Soil Trays Under Heat Lamps.
J Gn»*
Regional Applied Research Effort
Testing of Dust Suppressants for
Water Quality Impacts
The use of dust suppressants not only en-
hances dust control but can also significantly
reduce the amount of water needed to effec-
tively control
dust. However,
application of
dust suppres-
sants could also
negatively im-
pact the quality
of underground
water and sur-
face water bod-
ies through in-
filtration or
storm water
runoff.
The purpose of
this research
was to identify
dust suppres-
sant products
with minimal to
no adverse impacts on water quality and
aquatic life relative to use of water alone.
Simulated stormwater runoff from small-scale
AZ (left) and NV (right) soil columns
before and after product application.
soil plots treated with six dust suppressant
products was evaluated for water quality and
aquatic toxicity. The study also evaluated the
quality of water leached through soils treated
with dust suppressant products. The study de-
sign repli-
cated, to
the extent
possible,
conditions
under which
dust sup-
pressants
are typically
applied at
construe-
Overall, water quality results for the dust sup-
pressant products were favorable and generally
minimal, showing concentrations similar to wa-
ter-only control tests on untreated soils for the
majority of parameters evaluated. However,
this study is not a substitute for site-specific
monitoring of dust suppressant impacts and
results should not be applied to products that
were not tested.
Regional Scientists: Karen Irwin and Peter Husby
ORD Scientists: David Reisman, National Risk Manage-
ment Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH
Partners: Edward Beighley, San Diego State University;
Clark County Department of Air Quality & Environmental
Management, Las Vegas, NV; Maricopa County Air Quality
Department (AQD), Phoenix, AZ; Environmental Quality
Management, Inc.
Summary Report: http://www.epa.Qov/reaion09/air/dust/
DustSuppressants-sept2008.pdf
Final DRAFT. RARE Dust Supp.pub 3/jS'lOgm
Vertical Leaching Experiment: (a) column design and (b)
experimental setup.
tion sites in
desert cli-
mates.
Dust suppressant products tested included:
•	Chem-Loc 101 (surfactant)
•	Enviro RoadMoisture 2.5 (surfactant)
•	Durasoil (synthetic organic)
•	Jet-Dry (surfactant)
•	Haul Road Dust Control (surfactant)
•	EnviroKleen (synthetic polymer)

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