In New Zealand, on a matter we’ve raised before, a Christchurch resident has "pleaded with city councillors for help so she no longer has to wear a mask inside her home."
Residents in the area have complained for years about the dust. Two independent tests earlier this year found the dust contained high concentrations of crystalline silica, which could cause lung cancer and silicosis, an irreversible disease, over a long period.
"It is like sandpaper in my eyes."
Christchurch's city plan has no requirement for setback distances from quarries, but the Ministry for the Environment's good practice guidelines recommend a setback distance of 500 metres from those containing crystalline silica.
The quarry... was now within 90 metres of one house and 150m from several others.
At Straitgate Farm, in first world Devon, set back distances of 100m seem to be acceptable.
