Dust pollution is a major environmental problem and the main cause of occupational health hazards (Surui X., 2020). Some works prove that rail transportation of coal has a certain effect on heavy metals in street dust (source). Other studies showed the effects of different concentrations of PM2.5 exposure on the cardiopulmonary function of manganese mine workers (source).
The results showed that PM2.5 exposure caused damage to the lung function of open-pit manganese mine workers, and restrictive ventilation disorders were the most common. Studies by Maasago M. Sepadi et al. identified increased health risks to miners due to chronic low levels of dust exposure and lack of use of RPE (respiratory protective equipment) (source). Not only is the health of workers who have direct contact with industries that generate dust affected, but also the health of people living near mines and quarries due to environmental pollution from dust. Samantha Iyaloo et al. studied the respiratory health of a community living near a gold mine waste dump and showed that residents living within 500 m of the mine had elevated adverse respiratory effects (source).
Respiratory and ocular symptoms and objective measures of respiratory disease were higher among the more exposed groups of study participants; Maysaa Nemer et al. studied the lung function and respiratory health of residents near quarries in Palestine (source), exploring the negative health effects of environmental dust exposure in two communities near quarries in Palestine.
As an effective dust control technology, dust suppressant additives have been widely studied and applied. Therefore, several new dust suppressants have been developed. But even with their proven results, it is essential to effectively select and evaluate dust suppression performance based on the various dust prevention and control needs, environmental and safety requirements.
The evaluation indexes researched by Wu et al. for evaluating the performance of prepared dust suppressants include sedimentation performance, solution pH, wind erosion resistance, corrosion, toxicity, and economic benefits (source). Yanqiang LI proposed that the evaluation indexes of chemical dust suppressants should include corrosion, toxicity, environmental pollution, and cost performance. Thus, it is essential to select a dust control method taking into account the dust suppression technology’s performance, its economic benefit, and environmental safety.
 Measuring toxicity:
Toxicity can be measured by the effect that a substance has on an organism, tissue, or cell. We know that individuals will respond differently to the same dose of a substance due to a number of factors, including gender, age, and body weight. Therefore, a population-level measure of toxicity is often used. The probability of an outcome for a population is then related to a particular individual in a population.
 Lethal Dose (LD50):
 LD50 is the amount of a material, given at one time, that causes the death of 50% (half) of a group of test animals. The LD50 is a way of measuring the short-term poisoning potential (acute toxicity) of a material.
Toxicologists can use many types of animals, but most often testing is done with rats and mice. It is usually expressed as the amount of chemical administered (e.g., milligrams) per 100 grams (for smaller animals) or per kilogram (for more significant test subjects) of the test animal’s body weight. The LD50 can be found for any route of entry or administration, but dermal (applied to the skin) and oral (administered orally) methods of administration are the most common (source).
 Lethal Concentration (LC50):
 LC values generally refer to the concentration of a chemical in the air, but in environmental studies, it can also mean the concentration of a chemical in water.
According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Testing Chemicals, a traditional experiment involves groups of animals exposed to a concentration (or series of concentrations) for a set period of time (usually 4 hours). The animals are observed clinically for up to 14 days (source).
The concentration of the chemical in the air that kills 50% of the test animals during the observation period is the LC50 value. Other exposure durations (versus the traditional 4 hours) may apply depending on specific laws.
 Where to Find Toxicity Information:
 Before using any chemical, such as a dust suppressant, it is beneficial to know beforehand what your safe handling procedures are. What is the potential of the chemical to cause adverse biological effects in humans and animals? Is it a potential carcinogen, mutagen or teratogen? What is its LD50 or LC50 value? What is the chemical’s ability to bioaccumulate and persist in the environment? These data concerning the toxicology of a specific chemical are found in its Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Also, information regarding the toxicology of a specific chemical or compound is found in government databases such as the National Toxicology Program (NTP).Â
