A thin layer of dust that is coating cars, lawns, windows and homes in one Detroit neighborhood is being questioned by residents as a health risk.

Residents in southwest Detroit, near Oakwood Boulevard and Fort Street, said the shiny metallic dust started appearing about three weeks ago.

“You can see right there where it comes off on your hands,” said resident Larry Bryan, brushing his hand across a car.

Bryan said he and other residents are worried the dust contains environmental toxins from nearby industries.

“We know it has a funny smell, people are getting sick. So, we just wanted to see what it was all about,” said resident Jayne Mounce.

Mounce said she turned to an environmental company to get the air and
dust tested, and that the results showed high levels of lead and zinc in the dust and a toxic gas in the air.

“We want to find out who is responsible,” resident Theresa Landrum said. “They don’t even report it as an emission but it’s coming from somewhere. We want to find the origin and trace it back to the source.”