WASHINGTON - People in downtown D.C. are worried about their health because of an unexpected dust cloud that came from a construction site near the White House on 17th and H Streets Northwest.

Those standing near the site can feel their eyes burning and can taste and feel the particles in their mouths. They want to know how long this will last and if their health is being impacted.

Dust, bits, and particles fill the air and coat just about everything. Even construction workers toiling at the site where a new office building is being built said they have had a hard time breathing.

"It's rough," said construction worker Mitch Miller. "Been like that for almost a month now."

When breaking up concrete, construction crews usually spray it down with water to keep particles from floating away. A worker at the site, however, said that the crew has had a problem getting a line to the site. ABC 7/NewsChannel 8 also spotted a truck siphoning water from a nearby hydrant apparently to be used to try to keep the dust under control.

Regardless of the reasons, people traversing the streets near 17th and H are are tired of air thick with grime. "You just cough and you know sputter whenever the particles get big," said Arlington resident Keesha Green.

Arthur Griffith owns Barami, a clothing store right next door to the construction site. He has been struggling with a dust cloud for more than a month and worries about what is corroding his store and coating his nose, throat and lungs.

Because these buildings are old buildings there are bits of asbestos that have to be disposed of so you don't know what your are breathing but we have no choice," Griffith said.