The cross-sectional study described here aimed to investigate potential health effects associated with dust storms in Mongolia. The authors surveyed the subjective symptoms of the eyes (e.g., bloodshot eyes) and respiratory system (e.g., coughing) among inhabitants in different living environments (urban and desert) immediately after a dust storm. The subjects studied lived either in an urban area (n = 36 residents), or a desert area (n = 87 nomads). Information concerning eye and respiratory system symptoms was obtained by face-to-face household interviews. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed on the relationships between the subjective symptoms and the different living environments adjusting for age, gender, and smoking status. The occurrence of lacrimation, an eye symptom, was higher among the desert area participants compared to those residing in the urban area. Results suggest that the occurrence of eye lacrimation is related to dust storms.
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Sci Total Environ
January 2025
Coastal and Marine Resources Program, Environment & Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Salmiya 20001, Kuwait.
The Arabian/Persian Gulf, a marginal sea of the northern Indian Ocean, has been significantly impacted by human activities, leading to a rise in harmful algal blooms (HABs). This study investigates the summer blooming of an ichthyotoxic phytoflagellate Chattonella marina var. antiqua and associated fish-kill in Kuwaiti waters, connecting the events to a previous dust storm and eutrophication status in the coastal waters of the Northern Arabian Gulf (NAG).
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January 2025
Department of Basic Education, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana.
Urbanization and industrialization have drastically increased ambient air pollution in urban areas globally from vehicle emissions, solid fuel combustion and industrial activities leading to some of the worst air quality conditions. Air pollution in Ghana causes approximately 28,000 premature deaths and disabilities annually, ranking as a leading cause of mortality and disability-adjusted life years. This study evaluated the annual concentrations of PM NO and O in the ambient air of 57 cities in Ghana for two decades using historical and forecasted data from satellite measurements.
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December 2024
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China.
Sand and dust storms (SDS) can cause adverse health effects, with the oxidative potential (OP) and environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) inducing oxidative stress. We mapped the OP and EPFRs concentrations at 1735 sites in China during SDS periods using experimental data for 2021-2023 and a random forest model. We examined 855,869 hospitalizations during SDS events for 2015-2022 in Beijing, China.
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December 2024
School of Electronics Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India.
Autonomous vehicles, often known as self-driving cars, have emerged as a disruptive technology with the promise of safer, more efficient, and convenient transportation. The existing works provide achievable results but lack effective solutions, as accumulation on roads can obscure lane markings and traffic signs, making it difficult for the self-driving car to navigate safely. Heavy rain, snow, fog, or dust storms can severely limit the car's sensors' ability to detect obstacles, pedestrians, and other vehicles, which pose potential safety risks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
November 2024
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, King's College Hospital, Dubai, ARE.
Middle Eastern countries, such as the United Arab Emirates and Oman, are affected by frequent dust storms and extreme hot climatic conditions, which can exacerbate respiratory conditions. These environmental factors are particularly injurious to asthmatic patients, as they can aggravate small airway disease (SAD), leading to increased morbidity and healthcare challenges. The evaluation of maximal mid-expiratory flow (MEF-25) as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for early-stage small airway dysfunction is of significant clinical importance, particularly in hot and arid metropolitan environments where dusty conditions exacerbate pulmonary issues.
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