Nonpoint Sources John H. Ferguson, Regional Agricultural Engineering Specialist, Northwest Region H. Willard Downs and Donald L. Pfost, Department of Agricultural Engineering Fugitive dust is a relatively new term for an old problem. Simply put, fugitive dust is a type of nonpoint source air pollution - small airborne particles that do not originate from a specific point such as a gravel quarry or grain mill. Fugitive dust originates in small quantities over large areas. Significant sources include unpaved roads, agricultural cropland and construction sites.
Recent research indicates that there are significant health considerations involved as well.
Unpaved roads produce about 10 million tons of particulate matter air pollution each year in the United States. A small amount of fugitive dust occurs naturally. Wind erosion occurs continuously, especially in arid, open areas with sparse vegetation. Human activity coupled with unfavorable weather conditions can dramatically increase fugitive dust levels. Heavy tillage of marginally productive land combined with the extended drought to create a fugitive dust problem of huge magnitude.