Soilworks products are the industry’s top standard due to our insistence on creating high performance soil stabilization and dust control products that stand up to rigorous testing – both in the lab and in the field. Our commitment to quality and performance has led to our involvement and testing in hundreds of real-world situations. The following library of reports, presentations, specifications, approvals and other similar documents provide you, our customer, the transparency and dependable assurance that is expected from Soilworks.
Minimizing ecological impact while maintaining effective dust suppression is critical for operations near sensitive habitats. This study outlines a multi-stage assessment process to identify chemical dust suppressants that demonstrate low aquatic and terrestrial toxicity. Testing involved pre-application biological surveys, laboratory toxicity screenings—especially on rainbow trout—and year-long field trials monitoring road condition, dust control performance, and biological effects on plants and animals. Products exhibiting minimal adverse impact on aquatic and roadside ecosystems were advanced for field validation.
For environmentally conscious projects—such as those near waterways, wetlands, or protected species corridors—Durasoil offers superior dust control with ultra-low toxicity and a synthetic, non-water-soluble organic fluid formulation. Its non-evaporative nature and resistance to UV degradation ensure long-term performance without leaching. Soiltac, a biodegradable copolymer emulsion, is also well-suited for projects requiring effective surface binding and erosion control with environmental safety in mind. When applied correctly, these Soilworks solutions deliver field-tested, environmentally responsible alternatives to traditional chemical suppressants. Contact Soilworks to select the best low-impact dust control product for your regulatory or ecological site requirements.
Soiltac – synthetic copolymer emulsion; manufacturer: Soilworks”
Minimizing environmental consequences of chemical dust suppression
Bethany K. Williams, Edward E. Little, and Susan E. Finger
USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO
November 8, 2011
Photo courtesy of Soilworks
Photo courtesy of Northland Regional Council
Photo courtesy of Midwest Industrial Supply
Dust control issues
Fugitive dust in northern New Zealand. Photo courtesy of Northland Regional Council: www.nrc.govt.nz
Ecological receptors
Products
Project design
Phase One
Aquatic toxicity screening
Screen products across multiple categories and vendors for aquatic toxicity using standardized tests with a representative vertebrate, the rainbow trout
Phase Two
Expanded species tests
Select several products of low toxicity for expanded tests with additional invertebrate, vertebrate, and plant species
Phase Three
Experimental field tests
Confirm environmental safety of selected products through field applications with subsequent monitoring of roadside plant and animal communities
Phase One—Toxicity screen
Phase One—Toxicity screen
Phase Two—Expanded species tests
Crayfish—Orconectes virilis
Gray treefrog tadpole—Hyla versicolor
Juvenile fatmucket mussel—Lampsilis siliquoidea
Ryegrass—Lolium perenn
Pond snail—Lymnaea stagnalis
Phase Two—Electrochemical B
Phase Two—Organic D
Phase Two—Polymer A
Phase One and Two conclusions
Phase Three—Field tests
Pre-application biological surveys (roadside plants, animals, and water quality)
Pre-application assessment of road condition
Replicated applications of five products identified as low-toxicity by previous tests
Monitoring of roadside organisms, water quality, and product performance (dust control/road condition) for 12 months following applications
Proposed field site—Hagerman NWR
Big Mineral Arm of Lake Texoma
Proposed field site—Hagerman NWR
Overall goals
Related study
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