With the end of winter and the advent of spring, the intervening period is now full of dust. In a city like Guwahati, notorious for its haphazard growth and rampant cutting of earth in the once-beautiful hills around, the air is full of dust and various kinds of pollutants. This has already been reflected in the air quality index (AQI) of Guwahati, which is said to be worse than that of Delhi. Recent data indicates that air pollution in Guwahati is a growing concern, with the city experiencing high levels of PM2.5 and PM10, exceeding safe limits, due to factors like construction activities and vehicular emissions. The AQI levels in Guwahati have been fluctuating in the past couple of days, going up to 172 at certain hours of the day and coming down to 132 at the dead of the night, when both construction activity and vehicle emissions go down. Factors that have caused Guwahati’s air quality to go from bad to worse include construction activities, smoke emanating from factories of all kinds, burning of garbage including polythene and plastic waste, and burning of dry leaves. This in turn has adversely impacted the health of citizens, with allergies caused by a mix of factors, including dust mites and pollen, leading to common symptoms like sneezing, a runny nose, and itchy eyes. Common allergens, particularly during March, include dust mites, microscopic creatures that thrive in household dust and whose droppings are a major allergen. Cement dust pollution, caused by uncovered construction—which is common in Guwahati—can significantly impact human health, leading to respiratory problems, increased risk of certain cancers, and systemic effects on various organs. Exposure to cement and other construction dust, especially for a long period, can cause chronic respiratory symptoms and reduce lung capacity. Cement dust is notorious for irritating the skin, mucous membranes of the eyes, and the respiratory system, which in turn leads to symptoms like allergic rhinitis, runny and stuffy nose, and chronic cough. It also increases the risk of chronic lung diseases, including chronic bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, and tuberculosis. Inhalation of cement dust can lead to the development of pneumoconiosis, a lung disease caused by inhaling dust particles. Likewise, burning plastic and polythene, common in Assam, releases certain chemicals that are linked to cancer.