Meeroff, Daniel E.

Every year millions of construction workers are exposed to dust in levels that create a hazard to them (Fundukian, 2011). Their environment is contaminated by activities such as cutting, chipping, grinding and sanding building materials. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) refers to this general collection of building materials debris and fine particulates as nuisance dust. Some of the particles in nuisance dust possess properties that make them especially hazardous, such as their shape or specific gravity. It has been found by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that inhalation of quantities of silica dust above the permissible exposure limit (15.0 mg/m3) causes a deterioration of the outside lining of the lung.This research seeks to limit this exposure by a pretreatment process using acid application and then absorbed moisture content that reduces airborne particulate during the removal of cement stucco surfacing materials. Successful pretreatment would allow removal of CSSM from substrates such that the release of airborne particulates does not exceed the permissible exposure limits (PEL) found in the 29 CFR-Table Z-3 for mining applications (15-mg/m3).

When onsite treatment and disposal systems (OSTDS) are not properly sited, they can be a potential risk to public health and a source of environmental degradation. In Florida, OSTDS location has proven to be problematic from a water resources perspective. The objective of this study is to quantify the pollutant loading contributions from OSTDS on coastal canals, with regard to nutrients and pathogens indicators (Total Coliform, E. coli, Enterococcus). Two similar single-family residential locations were identified: Dania Beach, FL (with 100% OSTDS) and Hollywood, FL (with 100% sewer). Field studies were conducted during the height of the wet and dry seasons. During the wet season, surface water quality of the canal was affected by an OSTDS contribution with higher levels of nutrients and pathogens indicators. During the dry season, no OSTDS impact was detected. OSTDS appear to work properly during the dry season.