A group of mothers says construction crews demolishing the bridge are stirring up dangerous particles and lead. An excavator is tearing up the Carquinez Bridge just 150 feet from Jennifer Steman's home. The air quality is terrible, it smells bad. The kids are out here playing. A layer of construction dust covers residents' cars.
Neighbors try to hose down their homes to cut down on the heavy dust.
They fear it will settle in their lungs and damage their health. A group of moms takes their children to the hospital to test for elevated lead levels and other health problems. Both my daughters need an inhaler, my oldest needs it all the time. Caltrans insists they are taking all the necessary steps to protect and inform the residents of the potential hazards. Construction workers wear personal air monitors and work around portable air monitoring stations.