Socioeconomic impacts of the dust storms in southwest Iran

Abstract

Dust storms are a frequent meteorological occurrence in the arid and semi-arid regions of Khuzestan province (KHP) in southwest Iran. These storms result in significant social and economic repercussions that extend beyond mere meteorological and climatic disturbances. Over the past decade, they have become the primary cause of substantial environmental and socio-economic damage in the region. In this study, we aim to assess the economic impacts of sand/dust storms (SDSs) on human health, agriculture (specifically Estamran Dates), and migration in KHP during the period from 1960 to 2020. Our findings reveal the following economic consequences: Respiratory diseases incurred a financial loss of approximately US$14 million, with more than 450 individuals requiring hospitalization at a cost exceeding US$0.04 million (between April and July 2022). Cardiovascular diseases related to SDSs resulted in costs exceeding US$1.9 million within the same timeframe. Cities near the sources of dust storms experienced a cumulative damage cost of approximately US$6.8 million. The local population in these cities also suffered more significant adverse effects compared to those in cities farther from the influence of dust storms in southwest Iran. We evaluated the impact of SDSs on the quality of Estamran Dates by analyzing 20 samples from key Estamran Dates production areas in KHP, including Ahvaz, Abadan, Khorramshahr, and Shadegan. The cost of damages (CODs) in this sector amounted to around US$18.3 million, with Shadegan bearing the brunt of the loss at approximately US$8.3 million. In total, the socio-economic costs of SDSs in these three sectors amounted to about US$39 million. This is particularly concerning considering that Khuzestan province contributed 14.8% to Iran's GDP in 2020, representing 50% of the economic output of southwestern provinces. Dust storms have left an indelible mark on the southwestern Iranian provinces over the last few decades.