Background: The Sonoran Desert region, encompassing most of southern Arizona, has an extreme climate that is famous for dust storms known as haboobs. These storms lead to decreased visibility and potentially hazardous driving conditions. In this study we evaluate the relationship between haboob events and emergency department (ED) visits due to motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) in Phoenix, Arizona.
Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of MVC-related trauma presentations to Phoenix, AZ, hospitals before and following haboob dust storms. These events were identified from 2009-2017 primarily using Phoenix International Airport weather data. De-identified trauma data were obtained from the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) Arizona State Trauma Registry (ASTR) from seven trauma centers within a 10-mile radius of the airport. We compared MVC-related trauma using six- and 24-hour windows before and following the onset of haboob events.
Results: There were 31,133 MVC-related trauma encounters included from 2009-2017 and 111 haboob events meeting meteorological criteria during that period. There was a 17% decrease in MVC-related ED encounters in the six hours following haboob onset compared to before onset (235 vs 283, P = 0.04), with proportionally more injuries among males (P < 0.001) and higher mortality (P = 0.02). There was no difference in frequency of presentations (P = 0.82), demographics, or outcomes among the 24-hour pre-and post-haboob groups.
Conclusion: Haboob dust storms in Phoenix, Arizona, are associated with a decrease in MVC-related injuries during the six-hour period following storm onset, likely indicating the success of public safety messaging efforts. Males made up a higher proportion of those injured during the storms, suggesting a target for future interventions. Future public-targeted weather-safety initiatives should be accompanied more closely by monitoring and evaluation efforts to assess for effectiveness.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10393452 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.5811/westjem.59381 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Environmental triggers and ecological implications of a harmful algal bloom in the northern Arabian/Persian Gulf: Insights into the driving forces and consequences.
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).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComprehensive health risk assessment of urban ambient air pollution (PM, NO and O) in Ghana.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOxidative potential and persistent free radicals in dust storm particles and their associations with hospitalization.
Nat Commun
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMulti-sensor fusion and segmentation for autonomous vehicle multi-object tracking using deep Q networks.
Sci Rep
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 PDFEvaluating the Role of Maximal Expiratory Flow at 25% (MEF-25) in Detecting and Managing Patients With Small Airway Disease in the United Arab Emirates.
Cureus
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!