What type of pollution would street dust be classified as?

Street dust is classified as a fugitive pollutant because it originates from non-point sources, meaning it does not come from a single, identifiable point of release. Instead, fugitive pollutants are often the result of various activities such as traffic, construction, and natural erosion, where particles become airborne and disperse into the environment. Since street dust can escape into the air through mechanical means—like vehicles driving over surfaces or wind erosion—and is not emitted from a specific source at a controlled rate, it fits the definition of a fugitive pollutant.

Understanding this classification helps in environmental health and pollution control because it highlights the challenges in monitoring and regulating such pollutants. Unlike pollutants released from a factory chimney or smokestack, which can be tracked and reduced through point-source regulations, fugitive pollutants require broader, more comprehensive strategies for mitigation, often involving community engagement and changes in local practices.