What is Construction Dust?

Construction Dust is a general term used to what may be found on a construction site. There are three main types:

	Silica dust – Silica is a natural mineral present in large amounts in things like sand, sandstone and granite. It is also commonly found in many construction materials such as concrete and mortar. The silica is broken into very fine dust (also known as Respirable Crystalline Silica or RCS) during many common tasks such as cutting, drilling and grinding. It is often called silica dust (see also [Stone dust and you ](http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg315.pdf)).

	Non-silica dust – There are a number of construction products where silica is either not found or present in very low amounts. The most common ones include gypsum, cement, limestone, marble and dolomite. This dust is also mixed with silica dust when cutting things like bricks.

	Wood dust – Wood is widely used in construction and is found in two main forms; softwood and hardwood. Wood-based products are also commonly used including MDF and chipboard (see also [Wood dust](http://www.hse.gov.uk/woodworking/wooddust.htm)).