TAKE a drive along Sixteenth Street between Ontario and Riverside Avenues and you'd be forgiven for thinking you're in the middle of the Sahara desert.

Inches of thick, red dust cover roads, gutters, driveways and lawns, doors are sealed up with black rubbish bags in a desperate attempt by residents to keep the dirt out of their homes -- and their lungs.

But try as they might, there is no stoppi...