What are dust suppressant

Subject :Environment

Section: Pollution

Context: Delhi govt to use dust suppressants to combat poor AQI

What are dust suppressant

Dust suppressants may be salts of calcium or magnesium that can absorb moisture.
Dust suppressant powder would be mixed along with water and sprayed on roads to keep the dust down for longer.

Do the dust suppressant works:

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recommended their use in 2019, citing a study that found a 30% reduction in dust concentration, including PM10, PM2.5, and PM1, when dust suppressants were used in conjunction with water.
The Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) advisory in 2019 noted that dust suppressants mixed with water are more effective than plain water sprinkling, reducing particulate matter emissions significantly.
The use of magnesium chloride as a dust suppressant, along with bio-additives, was found to be particularly effective.
Both the CPCB and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee issued directives for the use of dust suppressants in construction and on dusty patches to control dust emissions.