Global Health Impacts of Dust Storms: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Dust storms and their impacts on health are becoming a major public health issue. The current study examines the health impacts of dust storms around the world to provide an overview of this issue. Method: In this systematic review, 140 relevant and authoritative English articles on the impacts of dust storms on health (up to September 2019) were identified and extracted from 28 968 articles using valid keywords from various databases (PubMed, WOS, EMBASE, and Scopus) and multiple screening steps. Selected papers were then qualitatively examined and evaluated. Evaluation results were summarized using an Extraction Table. Results: The results of the study are divided into two parts: short and long-term impacts of dust storms. Short-term impacts include mortality, visitation, emergency medical dispatch, hospitalization, increased symptoms, and decreased pulmonary function. Long-term impacts include pregnancy, cognitive difficulties, and birth problems. Additionally, this study shows that dust storms have devastating impacts on health, affecting cardiovascular and respiratory health in particular. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that dust storms have significant public health impacts. More attention should be paid to these natural hazards to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate these hazardous events to reduce their negative health impacts. Registration: PROSPERO registration number CRD42018093325

A Comparison of the Different Stages of Dust Events over Beijing in March 2021: The Effects of the Vertical Structure on Near-Surface Particle Concentration

“…Thus, the impact of dust on human health is becoming a major public issue. Exposure to the dusty air facilitates the appearance of chronic lung disease, increases mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and even increases the risk of pregnancy [22,23].…”

Effect of Dust Storms on Non-Accidental, Cardiovascular, and Respiratory Mortality: A Case of Dezful City in Iran

“… 40 In recent years, increasing dust storms worldwide have caused many adverse effects on global health. 5 - 7 , 48 The origins of these dust storms are scattered all over the world, including the Saharan Desert, the Asian Deserts, the Pacific to the Central Western North America Desert, and the Australian Desert. 6 It is noteworthy that particles in dust storms can enter the respiratory tract through the airways and their chemical, physical, and biological properties can lead to human health disorders.…”

“… 5 , 6 , 48 In addition, as the frequency, timing, and intensity of these storms increase, their health effects get worse. 5 , 7 , 48…”

“…Adverse outcomes of air pollution on humans҆ health have been already recognized. 1 - 7 Inhalation of environmental particles suspended in the ambient air can cause many side effects on public health and welfare of residents in the affected areas. 8 , 9 Particulate matter (PM) in dust storms is one of the important sources of air pollutions transmitting from desert or arid areas.…”

Association with Ambient Air Pollutants and School Absence Due to Sickness in Schoolchildren: A Case-Crossover Study in a Provincial Town of Japan

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