Moving by the new Amazon’s HQ2 in Arlington?
Toxic Dust, ceaseless Noise, the true price of progress, that’s on you!
The dream being sold in their shiny renderings and headlines doesn’t match the actual present situation. What awaits you is a grim reality, a dusty and noisy mess. And it’s not just a bit of noise and dust.
Let’s cut through the glitter for a sec! Picture this…”Those shiny skyscrapers, sleek shops, swanky restaurants, don’t just magically pop up overnight.”
We’re talking years of hardcore construction. They’re birthing from the rubble, and you’ve got a front-row ticket to the show. The heavy machinery noise, the toxic dirt, it’s all part of the ‘package deal’. They are bulldozing old buildings packed with hazardous materials like asbestos, too. Imagine the racket of those heavy construction equipment, it’s not your typical background coffee shop jazz. It’s an endless, earsplitting symphony of progress.
Health-wise, it means you’re going to be duking it out with the elements. It’s not just about living near a construction site, it’s about living with the reality that the air you breathe and the noise you hear it can be a health hazard.
While construction is a sign of growth and development, it’s essential that it doesn’t come at the expense of the community.
Health hazards? Ignored!
The dust can infiltrate buildings’ air ventilation systems, even if windows are kept closed. There are not currently systems in place to prevent the dust from reaching people homes and offices. What the county currently have to minimize the spread is ineffective.
The incessant hammering is a shockwave piercing through anyone eardrums and reaching up even the higher floor on high rises. We are staring down a project that will last years to come. Is a daily and night construction work.
Construction Noise Exposure
Machinery noise: The loud noise and vibration from heavy machinery contribute to stress, fatigue, sleep disruption, and hearing damage in infants. The long-term exposure can impair memory and focus and decreased quality of life. It can also impact children’s learning abilities and overall well-being. The high decibel noise may also unsettle pets.
Danger of Construction Dust
Construction dust contains silica, which, being 100 times finer than a grain of sand, is invisible to the naked eye and can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream, causing irreversible damage. It is a carcinogen known to increase rates of asthma, and a progressive incurable lung diseases such as silicosis, that may ultimately require a lung transplant. It may also cause tuberculosis and cancer. These minuscule particles pose the greatest threat as they can penetrate the bloodstream, causing kidney and heart diseases. During demolition of the old building, the asbestos in the structure, unable to be completely cleared in advance, releases harmful dust into the air.
Is Arlington County hiding behind the Greater Good to justify its actions?
Arlington’s Urban Equation.
1 Skyscraper =
5 People,
10 Children
& 2 Dogs.
Lack of County disclosures puts community at risk!
We’re dealing with real health hazards here. They’re turning a blind eye… and it’s no accident!
To admit to the risks of living by these major urban redevelopment is to open the floodgates to potential financial loss, stalling projects that are the lifeblood of city’s portfolios. No air or noise monitoring on site, no data, no testing, no previous experience. Arlington redevelopment is a 30-year old plan, that’s right, started that long time ago. Multiple high-rises, infrastructure adjustments, and no prior blueprint or data for something of this magnitude. But not disclosures yet to the community about the risks of living surrounded by construction sites.
What is in the Air? Dust from construction and demolition contains silica and other hazardous particles. Despite the extensive construction activities no one is testing for air quality and there are no air monitoring systems in place near these locations.
The noise climbs, reaching even the higher floors. Continuous exposure to loud construction noise can contribute to stress, hypertension, anxiety, can disrupt sleep patterns, and decreased quality of life. It can also impact children’s learning abilities and overall well-being.
Arlington County defers to the state level for air regulations…so who’s taking charge?
Seems jurisdiction lines blur when it’s about the health of the community.
OSHA standards have guidelines to protect those on the construction sites, but what about us? We deserve full disclosure on potential health hazards for us, our kids and our pets.
Air Quality: No monitors, NO testing. General DEQ monitoring doesn’t cut it. What are they hiding?
Noise: Day or night, we’re exposed. Chronic exposure to high noise levels can lead to stress, hearing loss, and more.
Transparency isn’t just policy, it’s a human right and a moral duty!
“I crack open the OSHA rulebook. It’s useless here. We’re not talking one building, we’re reshaping a city. And there are zero regulations for that level of audacity and only covers construction workers.”
Concrete and cement dust contains silica
Exposure to construction dust is a serious health threat.
Construction dust contains silica, which, being 100 times finer than a grain of sand, is invisible to the naked eye and can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream, causing irreversible damage and potentially fatal consequences. Anyone is affected by particle pollution exposure.
Silica. ‘The new Asbestos’
silica is as dangerous as asbestos
Why EPA has labeled silica as “the new asbestos?”
Because inhaling silica dust is just as dangerous as asbestos. So why does “no one” inform you? Because there are no regulations or policies and no one is obligated to inform you. What does this mean to you? That you could inhale a toxic dust that will lead to irreversible lung and heart disease.
If this is such a significant threat to your health, why is no one informing you?
#ArlingtonVA
#ArlingtonCounty
#Developers
What are they hiding from You, and Who, and Why?
Arlington County
Is the health of a community the price tag for progress?
Arlington redevelopment is a 30-year old plan, that’s right, started that long time ago!
The County and developers spent a quarter-century meticulously planning this urban transformation, adapting policies along the way. But did they overlook basic human necessities? It’s implausible that over three decades, no one else spotted these concerns. I won’t claim they acted knowingly. So, what happened to those voices? Were they sidelined? Who made the call to sacrifice a few of us for the greater good?
Is Profit Worth Our Health?
@Chairman Dorsey.
Hon. Mr. Dorsey can you assure everyone, both residents and those who are here from 9 to 5, that their health is not at risk as a result of the constant dust and noise from the ongoing construction and demolition work in Arlington?
I’ve corresponded multiple times with RosslynBid and Arlington County. Check my communication with Chairman Dorsey below.
Is Construction Dust Invading Your Living Room or Office?
Is this just an outdoor concern?
Dirty air filters, only 30 days old instead of the advertised 90, raised questions about the air quality leading me to suspect that construction dust was finding its way into my apartment, despite my efforts to keep my windows closed.
The dust can infiltrate buildings’ air ventilation systems, even if windows are kept closed. There are not currently systems in place to prevent the dust from reaching people homes and offices. What the county currently has to minimize the spread is ineffective. Read More…
Who am I, and why am I here?
Hi I am Monica, my story…
“Investors, corporations, and construction firms, along with the county, must weigh heavily the knowledge that their decisions impact every breath we take, every sound we hear, and the very essence of our daily lives.”
–Monica LaFonte
The EPA isn’t throwing out warnings for their health—they’re worried about yours. And while you might not sprout a cough immediately, it’s the long game that’s concerning and can be fatal. This is the kind of stuff can take a toll on your lungs, heart, and overall well-being. So, if you’re moving to Arlington, gear up.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has attributed major pollution and poor air quality to ongoing construction projects. The scale of Arlington’s urban redevelopment surpasses any previous endeavor, jeopardizing the health and safety of its residents. However, the truth remains hidden, as those in power are unwilling to unveil the dangers that lie ahead.
Silica Dust – generated when working on materials such concrete, bricks, mortar and sandstone is too fine to see, but it penetrates deep into your lungs and even into your bloodstream. Exposure to such particles can affect both your lungs and your heart. Anyone is affected by particle pollution exposure.
The EPA recognizes these dangers. Yet the community remains exposed.