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About DustScan

DustScanAQ is the new trading name for DustScan Ltd; we have recently rebranded to reflect our growing air quality consultancy expertise and involvement in air quality matters. DustScan Ltd was established in 2004 as a spin-off company from Leeds University. The firm is based in Oxfordshire, UK.

Dust Assessment

With strong connections to industry and academia, DustScanAQ are leaders in dust assessment. Dust assessment is a specialist sector of air quality consultancy and deals directly with ‘disamenity’ or ‘nuisance’ dust, which is associated with annoyance rather than specific, fine fractions of dust such as PM10.


Dust assessments are sometimes carried out as part of a planning application, with the question: ‘will this development generate unacceptable levels of dust?’ At other times a dust assessment is more of a forensic investigation: ‘whose dust is it, what’s in it and why?’ At DustScanAQ, we specialise in both.


A forensic approach to dust assessment


As part of the planning process, there is no formal procedure for dust assessment; indeed and as a result, our experts have recently contributed to the production of guidance for mineral planning, brought out by the Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM) and others. From an investigative perspective, we take a forensic approach. Through our connections with the University of Portsmouth, several of our team have contributed to work published by the International Network of Environmental Forensics (INEF).


As a specialist procedure, dust assessment calls for an understanding of material processes (how dust is generated in the natural world and by human activities) and of environmental factors (how dust propagates; the effects of wind and rain, etc. Human perception, the ‘sensitivity’ of human ‘receptors’ to visible dust, is also important.


Consequently, a generic approach to dust assessment is rarely appropriate. Each dust assessment is different and we always take a site-specific approach to each to ensure that it is appropriate to clients’ requirements.


 
John Bruce

John Bruce
(PhD, BSc, MIAQM, MIEnvSc)
Principal Consultant

Discuss your requirements with our Principal Consultant

If you would like to discuss any of your Dust Assessment needs with our Principal Consultant we can organise an initial call to understand your exact requirements. Please call us on +44 (0)1608 810110 or email John Bruce using the email button below.

   

Call us on +44 (0)1608 810110
or to discuss your requirements

Equipment

DustScanAQ provide low cost dust monitoring solutions. We supply directional and depositional sticky pad dust gauges, gravimetric filter-reference PM10 and PM2.5 samplers and also specify and install real-time air quality and meteorological monitoring equipment. Our dust monitoring equipment has many applications; from compliance requirements to detailed assessments of particulate movements arising from industrial, commercial, construction or other activities. Dust monitoring also provides us with samples used for forensic analysis of potential and actual contamination.