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Dust entry

Sand and dust storm mineral particulate

Airborne mineral particulate generated by sand and dust storms and transported through the atmosphere, including dust from deserts, agricultural land, and other bare soils.

Airborne form

dust

The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.

Health effects

respiratory disease concerncardiovascular disease concernair-pollution exposureshort-term adverse health effects

Evidence

WHO's 2025 technical brief describes sand and dust storms as wind-driven events that lift large quantities of particles of varied size and composition from the ground, and identifies their implications for human health and public-health action.

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Overview · 1–4
Sand and dust storms (SDS) result from turbulent winds that raise large quantities of particles from the ground ... During SDS, large amounts of particles of a broad range of sizes and chemical composition are uplifted from the soil. SDS have significant impacts on ... human health.

WHO states that sand and dust storm episodes increase particulate-matter concentrations and are a public-health concern mainly because of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

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Health impacts
Sand and dust storms episodes contribute directly to air pollution by increasing particulate matter concentrations. In some regions dust is a main source of air pollution from particulate matter. These dust episodes constitute a growing environmental and public health concern, mainly for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

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