Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- . Ali Sadeghimoghaddam 1
- . Hamidreza Khankeh 2
- . Mehdi Norozi 3
- . Shahrokh Fateh 4
- . Mehrdad Farrokhi 4
1 Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran,
2 Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
3 Social Determinants of Health Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran,
Abstract
New epidemiological studies acknowledge the detrimental effects of dust storms on health.
The aim of this study was to systematically review the effects of dust storms on the morbidity
and mortality rates of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The results of this study were
obtained based on articles published in English-language journals. For the purpose of this
study, all articles published until the end of 2020 based on the search in the “Scopus,” “Web
of Science,” and “PubMed” databases were selected. Articles were searched independently
by two trained researchers. Dust storms are the cause of many diseases and health-related
complications, of which cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are common. It is necessary
to recognize and investigate the harmful effects of dust storms to prevent serious harms
to human societies. In the reviewed articles, the impact of dust storms on several diseases,
including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases,has been analyzed. Most of these articles
acknowledge the effect of dust storms on increasing the incidence and mortality rate of these
diseases, although in some articles this effect is not statistically significant. Many studies
conducted around the world confirm the harmful effects of dust storms on cardiovascular
and respiratory diseases, including increase in the number and duration of hospitalizations, as
well as increase in mortality and exacerbation of these diseases. However, some studies do not
consider the harmful effects of dust storms on the above diseases to be statistically significant.
Keywords
- Crooks JL, Cascio WE, Percy MS, Reyes J, Neas LM, Hilborn ED.
The association between dust storms and daily non-accidental
mortality in the United States, 1993–2005. Environ Health Perspect
2016;124:1735.
2. Ansari Ranani M. Statistical-Climate Analysis of Zahedan Dust
from 2005 to 1968. The First International Congress on Dust and
Countering Its Impacts Ahwaz; 1390.
3. Chan CC, Chuang KJ, Chen WJ, Chang WT, Lee CT, Peng CM.
Increasing cardiopulmonary emergency visits by long-range
transported Asian dust storms in Taiwan. Environ Res
2008;106:393-400.
4. Kojima S, Michikawa T, Ueda K, Sakamoto T, Matsui K, Kojima T,
et al. Asian dust exposure triggers acute myocardial infarction.
Eur Heart J 2017;38:3202-8.
5. Jiménez E, Linares C, Martínez D, Díaz J. Role of Saharan dust in
the relationship between particulate matter and short-term daily
mortality among the elderly in Madrid (Spain). Sci Total Environ
2010;408:5729-36.
6. Chen YS, Yang CY. Effects of Asian dust storm events on daily
hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease in Taipei, Taiwan.
J Toxicol Environ Health A 2005;68:1457-64.
7. Shahbazi A, Rahmani N, Abbasi M, Amjad RN, Marioryad H,
Khammar AR, et al. Association between occupational stress and
risk factors of cardiovascular disease in locomotive operators. Iran
Heart J 2018;19:20-6.
8. De Longueville F, Hountondji YC, Ozer P, Marticorena B,
Chatenet B, Henry S. Saharan dust impacts on air quality: What
are the potential health risks in West Africa? Hum Ecol Risk Assess
2013;19:1595-617.
9. de Longueville F, Ozer P, Doumbia S, Henry S. Desert dust
impacts on human health: An alarming worldwide reality and a
need for studies in West Africa. Int J Biometeorol 2013;57:1-9.
10. Chen YS, Sheen PC, Chen ER, Liu YK, Wu TN, Yang CY. Effects
of Asian dust storm events on daily mortality in Taipei, Taiwan.
Environ Res 2004;95:151-5.
11. Alessandrini ER, Stafoggia M, Faustini A, Gobbi GP, Forastiere F.
Saharan dust and the association between particulate matter
and daily hospitalisations in Rome, Italy. Occup Environ Med
2013;70:432-4.
12. Barnett AG, FraserJF, Munck L. The effects of the 2009 dust storm
on emergency admissions to a hospital in Brisbane, Australia. Int
J Biometeorol 2012;56:719-26.
13. Bennett CM, McKendry IG, Kelly S, Denike K, Koch T. Impact
of the 1998 Gobi dust event on hospital admissions in the Lower
Fraser Valley, British Columbia. Sci Total Environ 2006;366:918-25. - 14. Cheng MF, Ho SC, Chiu HF, Wu TN, Chen PS, Yang CY.
Consequences of exposure to Asian dust storm events on daily
pneumonia hospital admissions in Taipei, Taiwan. J Toxicol
Environ Health A 2008;71:1295-9.
15. Chiu HF, Tiao MM, Ho SC, Kuo HW, Wu TN, Yang CY. Effects
of Asian dust storm events on hospital admissions for chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease in Taipei, Taiwan. Inhal Toxicol
2008;20:777-81.
16. Hong YC, Pan XC, Kim SY, Park K, Park EJ, Jin X, et al. Asian
Dust Storm and pulmonary function of school children in Seoul.
Sci Total Environ 2010;408:754-9.
17. Johnston F, Hanigan I, Henderson S, Morgan G, Bowman D.
Extreme air pollution events from bushfires and dust storms and
their association with mortality in Sydney, Australia 1994-2007.
Environ Res 2011;111:811-6.
18. Kanatani KT, Ito I, Al-Delaimy WK, Adachi Y, Mathews WC,
Ramsdell JW, et al. Desert dust exposure is associated with
increased risk of asthma hospitalization in children. Am J Respir
Crit Care Med 2010;182:1475-81.
19. Lai LW, Cheng WL. The impact of air quality on respiratory
admissions during Asian dust storm periods. Int J Environ Health
Res 2008;18:429-50.
20. Meng Z, Lu B. Dust events as a risk factor for daily hospitalization
for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in Minqin, China.
Atmos Environ 2007;41:7048-58.
21. Monteil MA. Saharan dust clouds and human health in the
English-speaking Caribbean: What we know and don’t know.
Environ Geochem Health 2008;30:339-43.
22. Park JW, Lim YH, Kyung SY, An CH, Lee SP, Jeong SH, et al.
Effects of ambient particulate matter on peak expiratory flow
rates and respiratory symptoms of asthmatics during Asian dust
periods in Korea. Respirology 2005;10:470-6.
23. Perez L, Tobias A, Querol X, Künzli N, Pey J, Alastuey A,
et al. Coarse particles from Saharan dust and daily mortality.
Epidemiology 2008;19:800-7.
24. Prospero JM, Blades E, NaiduR, Mathison G, Thani H, Lavoie MC.
Relationship between African dust carried in the Atlantic
trade winds and surges in pediatric asthma attendances in the
Caribbean. Int J Biometeorol 2008;52:823-32.
25. Rutherford S, Clark E, McTainsh G, Simpson R, Mitchell C.
Characteristics of rural dust events shown to impact on asthma
severity in Brisbane, Australia. Int J Biometeorol 1999;42:217-25.
26. Schwartz J, Norris G, Larson T, Sheppard L, Claiborne C, Koenig J.
Episodes of high coarse particle concentrations are not associated
with increased mortality. Environ Health Perspect 1999;107:339.
27. Ueda K, Nitta H, Odajima H. The effects of weather, air pollutants,
and Asian dust on hospitalization for asthma in Fukuoka. Environ
Health Prev Med 2010;15:350-7.
28. Wang CH, Chen CS, Lin CL. The threat of Asian dust storms on
asthma patients: A population-based study in Taiwan. Glob Public
Health 2014;9:1040-52.
29. Watanabe M, Yamasaki A, Burioka N, Kurai J, Yoneda K,
Yoshida A, et al. Correlation between Asian dust storms and
worsening asthma in Western Japan. Allergol Int 2011;60:267-75.
30. Wiggs GF, O’hara SL, Wegerdt J, Van Der Meer J, Small I,
Hubbard R. The dynamics and characteristics of aeolian dust in
dryland Central Asia: Possible impacts on human exposure and
respiratory health in the Aral Sea basin. Geograp J 2003;169:142-57.
31. Yang CY, Cheng MH, Chen CC. Effects of Asian dust storm events
on hospital admissions for congestive heart failure in Taipei,
Taiwan. J Toxicol Environ Health A 2009;72:324-8.
32. Yoo Y, Choung JT, Yu J, Kim DK, Koh YY. Acute effects of Asian
dust events on respiratory symptoms and peak expiratory flow
in children with mild asthma. J Korean Med Sci 2008;23:66-71.
33. Yu HL, Chien LC, Yang CH. Asian dust storm elevates children’s
respiratory health risks: A spatiotemporal analysis of children’s
clinic visits across Taipei (Taiwan). PLoS One 2012;7:e41317.
34. Gyan K, Henry W, Lacaille S, Laloo A, Lamsee-Ebanks C,
McKay S, et al. African dust clouds are associated with increased
paediatric asthma accident and emergency admissions on the
Caribbean island of Trinidad. Int J Biometeorol 2005;49:371-6.
35. Goudie AS. Desert dust and human health disorders. Environ Int
2014;63:101-13.
36. Lorentzou C, Kouvarakis G, Kozyrakis GV, Kampanis NA,
Trahanatzi I, Fraidakis O, et al. Extreme desert dust storms and
COPD morbidity on the island of Crete. Int J Chron Obstruct
Pulmon Dis 2019;14:1763-8.
37. Ishii M, Seki T, Kaikita K, Sakamoto K, Nakai M, Sumita Y,
et al. Short-term exposure to desert dust and the risk of acute
myocardial infarction in Japan: A time‑stratified case‑crossover
study. Eur J Epidemiol 2020;35:455-64.
38. Saberinia A, Abdolshahi A, Khaleghi S, Moradi Y, Jafarizadeh H,
Sadeghi Moghaddam A, et al. Investigation of relationship
between occupational stress and cardiovascular risk factors
among nurses. Iran J Public Health ,2020;49:1954-8.
39. Poursadeqiyan M, Bazrafshan E, Arefi MF. Review of
environmental challenges and pandemic crisis of Covid-19. J Educ
Health Promot 2020;9:250.