Justify the statement: "Dust is a pollutant".

(N/A) Dust particles remain suspended in the air and can cause various allergies and respiratory diseases in humans.
Dust affects plant growth by settling on the leaf surface and blocking the $stomata$, which interferes with photosynthesis and gaseous exchange.
Dust particles act as carriers for toxic substances, including heavy metals and harmful chemicals, which can be inhaled or deposited into the environment.