HURRICANE, Utah (KUTV) — Residents in Hurricane are not just concerned about the inconvenience, disruption and mess of construction blasting close to residential areas, but also the potential health risks of inhaling excessive amounts of dust.Some worry that the dust could carry contaminants, including radon and the fungus that causes Valley Fever, a respiratory illness that is over eight times more common in Southern Utah than the rest of the state, according to a 2021 University of Utah study.Jeff Nelson, who lives near an active construction site, said the increase in dust has noticeably affected his quality of life.“My home is filled with dust,” he said. “I don’t clean my house anymore because I clean it one day and then two days later, it looks like I haven’t done anything at all.”Nelson said he has also noticed the dust affecting his health.“I don’t have allergies, but now I sneeze 30 to 40 times a day. Big powerful sneezes,” he said.What is Valley Fever?According to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Valley Fever, or coccidioidomycosis, is caused by a fungus that lives in soil. When the soil is disturbed — through blasting, construction or recreational activities like ATV riding — the fungus can become airborne and inhaled.“When that soil gets kicked up into the air, people can breathe in those fungal spores and it can make them sick,” said BreAnn Osborne, an epidemiologist with the UDHHS.She said that most people who contract Valley Fever experience mild symptoms, but for some the illness can cause severe lung infections.“Usually people have symptoms like fever, coughing or shortness of breath,” Osborne said. “Most people have very mild symptoms, and some don’t have any symptoms at all. But, there are some people, particularly those who are older or may be immunocompromised, who can have more severe illness.”In some cases, Valley Fever can cause chest pains, skin lesions or rashes.Growing Concern in Southern UtahWhile Valley Fever is most common in Arizona and California, Osborne confirmed that Southern Utah is a known hotspot for the fungus.RELATED: Lack of city codes leaves Hurricane residents vulnerable to construction-related blasting“In Utah, we do know that the southwest portion of the state, particularly the St. George area, is endemic for the fungus that causes Valley Fever,” Osborne said.According to Osborne, the number of reported Valley Fever cases in Utah has been steadily increasing over the past several years.“We think some of this may be because the region where the fungus can live is expanding, particularly with climate change,” Osborne said. “As things get warmer, there are areas expanding beyond the St. George region that are suitable for the fungus to live.”Reducing ExposureOsborne said there are ways to test soil for the presence of the Valley Fever fungus, but, “it’s not something ordinary residents can go out and do because it can be costly and may no