COUGHS, sore throats and dirty floors are all being caused by dust whipped up from a Russell Island road.
Medika Drive resident Doreen Bailey, 71, said the problem began when Redland City Council placed road base on the grass track which ran past her home.
She said plumes of dust kicked up from passing cars worsened her lung condition and gave her husband Dave a sore throat.
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Ms Bailey said council needed to take responsibility.
“I am just eating their dust,” she said.
“I can taste it if we forget to close the door and a car comes down.”
More than 25 cars pass the couple’s corner home every day, which is bordered by unsealed roads on two sides.
She said the problem meant her home’s doors and windows were always shut, meaning the couple missed out on bay breezes.
The duo also stifled when the house was closed-up in summer.
“It affects my breathing,” she said. “It exacerbates my coughing.”
“I don’t expect it to be fixed immediately but I just want to live with the front door and windows open.”
A council spokesperson said council did plan to seal the road, despite receiving “very few” complaints about the problem from Medika Drive residents.
“In relation to Medika Drive, this road is identified in the current program and will be sealed within the next two to three years, if not sooner, depending on final budget allocations,” the spokesperson said.
“Council is aware of the need to seal all roads on the SMBI islands for the comfort and amenity of residents and is working as quickly as possible to deliver the green seal program.”
Neighbour Barry Taylor said he mopped his floors almost every day to get rid of the powdery filth which blew into his house.
He said the dust affected not just him and the Bailey’s, but about 15 others. He learned of the problem’s extentt when garnering support for a petition to get the road fixed.
“I collected signatures from the neighbours and everyone signed it,” he said.
“They all knew that section of road was horrible.”
He lodged the petition a year ago but was told nothing would be done for years.
Mr Taylor, who put up a sign telling traffic to slow down, said he was disappointed no action to control the dust had been taken by council given it was a health hazard.