Mystery Dust Coats Local Neighborhood

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Mystery Dust Coats Local Neighborhood
City Analyzes Pollution Monitoring Stations To Track Source

POSTED: 8:30 p.m. EDT September 1, 2004

Authorities are working to locate the source of a mysterious orange dust that covered a local neighborhood on Wednesday.

Residents in the area of Charles and Division streets, near Jefferson Avenue and Schaeffer, woke to find the substance on their homes and cars, Local 4 reported.

Residents Concerned About Substance Covering Homes
"When I was leaving for work at quarter after 6, I could see it in my headlight coming down like rain, a red dust material," said Dave Long, of River Rouge.

Residents in the industrial city told Local 4 they've seen dust before, but said the orange color was unusual.

"I'm thinking I'm being poisoned over here or something," said Rae Ray, who lives in the area.

City officials said a contractor is analyzing three pollution monitoring stations to try to determine the contents of the dust.

"They questioned witnesses, obtained samples and took photographs, tried to trace the path of it to determine whether or not it was airborne or the result of truck traffic," said River Rouge City Attorney David Bower.

River Rouge is 70 percent industrial and has frequently filed lawsuits against companies suspected of polluting, Local 4 reported.

Resident Debbie Laxton said she will keep her 4-year-old son indoors until she finds out more about the dust.

"It's scary. We wonder if it's toxic, if it's going to cause some type of permanent damage," Laxton said.

Local 4 learned that the orange color of the dust is often associated with iron products.

Officials hoped to know the contents and source of the substance by Wednesday night.











[edit on 3-9-2004 by valkeryie]

[edit on 9-3-2004 by Valhall]