Dust and Health: Challenges and Solutions

258 Pages·2023·10.039 MB·English

by  Ali Al-Dousari, Muhammad Zaffar Hashmi

Emerging Contaminants and Associated Treatment Technologies
Ali Al-Dousari
Muhammad Zaffar Hashmi   Editors
Dust and
Health
Challenges and Solutions
Emerging Contaminants and Associated
Treatment Technologies
Series Editors
Muhammad Zaffar Hashmi, Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University
Islamabad, Pakistan
Vladimir Strezov, Department of Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Emerging Contaminants and Associated Treatment Technologies focuses on
contaminant matrices (air, land, water, soil, sediment), the nature of pollutants
(emerging, well-known, persistent, e-waste, nanomaterials, etc.), health effects
(e.g., toxicology, occupational health, infectious diseases, cancer), treatment
technologies (bioremediation, sustainable waste management, low cost
technologies), and issues related to economic development and policy. The book
series includes current, comprehensive texts on critical national and regional
environmental issues of emerging contaminants useful to scientists in academia,
industry, planners, policy makers and governments from diverse disciplines. The
knowledge captured in this series will assist in understanding, maintaining and
improving the biosphere in which we live. The scope of the series includes
monographs, professional books and graduate textbooks, edited volumes and books
devoted to supporting education on environmental pollution at the graduate and
post-graduate levels.
Ali Al-Dousari • Muhammad Zaffar Hashmi
Editors
Dust and Health
Challenges and Solutions
Editors
Ali Al-Dousari Muhammad Zaffar Hashmi
Environment & Life Sciences Department of Chemistry
Research Center COMSATS University Islamabad
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research Islamabad, Pakistan
Safat, Kuwait
ISSN 2524-6402 ISSN 2524-6410 (electronic)
Emerging Contaminants and Associated Treatment Technologies
ISBN 978-3-031-21208-6 ISBN 978-3-031-21209-3 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21209-3
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Preface
Dust in deserts is driven by wind due to the prolonged drought and degradation in
arid regions. Large quantities of dust can be transported thousands of kilometers
from its source. Understanding the various effects of aeolian dust on various sur-
faces, such as solar panels and wind turbines, is a challenge that requires a compre-
hensive understanding of both the physical and chemical properties of dust.
Dust has an impact on health, aviation, agricultural output, and the economy.
According to recent aeolian studies, dust is a regional environmental and economic
issue. Unfortunately, few researchers in arid places have focused on these chal-
lenges as part of the natural system. The book (Dust and Health: Challenges and
Solutions) aims to provide a comprehensive view of the various health aspects of
dust and aerosols and to provide various strategies and solutions that can help con-
trol the negative effects of indoor and outdoor air pollutants on urban areas. Most of
the deposited dust in dust traps in desert areas is due to re-suspension in accordance
with many recent studies using the depositional features of radionuclides 7Be,
210Pb, 40K, and 137Cs.
In the Middle East and China, few studies have shown that the presence of native
vegetation and green belts can help minimize the effects of dust and mobile sand on
the environment. This is the main reason why the region's green belts and grasslands
are considered ideal locations for controlling air pollutants. The existence of rich
native vegetation in the region is the only element that can prevent the re-suspension
and play a significant role in outdoor and interior air pollution control methods for
current and future metropolitan areas. Aside from preventing the air pollutants from
entering the environment, the presence of dust and sand in aeolian deposits can also
help rehabilitate marine life. These deposits are known to have high levels of nutri-
ents and organic materials, which can act as a healing factor due to their high con-
centration of nutrients, seeds, and organic materials, which act as a primary healing
element.
v
vi Preface
This book is the first comprehensive analysis of the various aspects of dust's
health effects and health issues covering topics such as PM , PM , NO, O, and
2.5 10 2 3
SO It also provides a variety of epidemiological studies that examine the link
2.
between dust and various health conditions.
Safat, Kuwait Ali Al-Dousari
Islamabad, Pakistan Muhamad Zaffar Hashmi
Introduction
The global dust belt is composed of various regions, including the Northern Desert
of Africa, the Middle East, and the western portion of China (Gobi and Taklimakan
deserts), that are known to be the most important sources of sand and dust storms
(SDS) (Formenti et al., 2021; Shi et al., 2021). The horizontal visibility of these
storms in terms of atmospheric aerosols is a key factor that can be used to determine
their intensity (Dagsson-Waldhauserova et al., 2014). The availability of data (more
than 50 years) on the horizontal visibility of SDS through the Global Basic
Observing Network GBON, which is a network of observation stations operated by
the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), has been regarded as a justification
for the widespread use of these data (Baddock et al., 2014). The SDS events fre-
quency is an indicator of the environmental variations that have taken place, espe-
cially in arid and semi-arid regions excluding vegetation coverage differences and
the impact of human interferences (Gao et al., 1997; Goudie & Middleton, 2001).
This information can help strategic planners identify areas of their operations that
are most affected by the dust (Mesbahzadeh et al., 2020). The effects of various
environmental factors on human health are considered to be severe. According to
Smith et al. (1999), around 25–33 million deaths could be caused by various
diseases.
The organic and inorganic pollutants of dust can spread through two different
pathways. These particles are composed of various elements. They are divided into
two clusters: trace and major elements consisting of 16 elements (Chabukdhara &
Nema, 2013). These elements are copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg),
zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), vanadium (V), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), cad-
mium (Cd), and cobalt (Co) (Li et al., 2018). These heavy metals are known to cause
negative effects on the environment due to their unfriendly and noxious relation to
the atmosphere (Klavinš et al., 2000). They can also lead to various diseases, such
as respiratory and cardiac issues. Due to their non-biodegradable properties, these
heavy metals cannot be properly recognized by body tissues and skin cells and can
lead to death and various contagious and infectious diseases (Zheng et al., 2010; Wu
et al., 2010).
vii
viii Introduction
Road dirt is made up of tiny particles that are produced by various mechanical
processes, such as crushing, squeezing, and the impact of mining handling, explo-
sion, and decrepitating of organic and inorganic materials like rock, ore, and metals
(Khan & Strand, 2018). It also contains various organic and non-organic compounds
that are harmful to human health and contribute significantly to air pollution (Li
et al., 2018). Road dust particles are produced in varying numbers depending on the
various factors that affect their composition. They can be found in different loca-
tions and include the number of people using the roads, the number of cars, and the
locations of parks and business establishments (Mohmand et al., 2015). Dust indoors
is made up of a diverse combination of biological and inorganic components (Kurt-
Karakus, 2012). The various combination of gases, particles, and vapors come from
different sources, such as inside and outside sources (Morawska & He, 2014).
Outside dust contributes to the accumulation of dust in the building. Outside dust is
believed to account for over 85% of indoor dust (Kurt-Karakus, 2012).
Aside from directly affecting the Earth’s atmosphere, dust particles can also have
negative effects on human health. These include respiratory and lung problems,
which can often be triggered by prolonged exposure and inhalation of dust particles
(Pope & Dockery, 2006; Hoek et al., 2013). Moreover, dust particles can also be
used as carriers for various toxic and allergic substances. Dust particles are also
known to transport various toxic substances and allergens, which are either con-
tained in (or adsorbed to) dust particles, for instance, trace elements (such as Cu,
Co, Mn, Ni, Pb, P, Zn, Ti, Ba, and Sr). Eventually, once dust particles are deposited
on dry or wet depositions, they may contaminate soil and water supplies as well as
food sources.
The presence of vegetation can help prevent soil particles from being transported
and lifted by the wind. It can also reduce the wind speed and the erosivity of soil,
forming a mechanical barrier to stop soil particles from being lifted and transported.
The threshold for wind speed is expected to increase exponentially with higher veg-
etation density and coverage (Shi et al., 2004). Despite the uncertainty surrounding
the effects of human activities on the SDS, it is believed that the impacts of these
activities will rise in the coming decades. The effects of human activities on the
development and occurrence of SDS can vary depending on the ecosystem’s char-
acteristics, for instance, the role of precipitation in regulating the soil moisture con-
tent influences particle adhesion and the growth of vegetation (Gao et al., 2012).
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) defines SDS as powerful and
turbulent particles that can lift and disperse at great heights and reduce visibility at
eye level (1.8 m) to less than 1000 m (McTainsh & Pitblado, 1987). Sand and dust
storms (SDS) are categorized into three categories in reference to visibility, and
dimensions, namely small, intermediate, and extensive (Al-Dousari et al., 2022).
Many studies have shown a strong correlation between SDS triggering asthma
attacks in children and adults. These effects were observed in different countries
such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Australia, Greece, and the USA (Meo et al., 2013;
Thalib & Al-Taiar, 2012; Samoli et al., 2011; Grineski et al., 2011; Rutherford et al.,
1999). In addition, these effects were also observed in other breathing conditions
Introduction ix
such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations and allergic
rhinitis (Tam et al., 2012; Meltzer et al., 2012).
Hashizume et al. (2020) identified a 9% increase in respiratory disease hospital
admissions 3 days after an Asian dust episode, as well as a 14.5 and 8.5% increase
in asthma and pneumonia admissions during dust episodes. The presence of dust
particles in the environment can cause various pathological pathways to develop.
Possible pathways include direct physical injury to respiratory epithelial cells by
dust particles, which causes an inflammatory response and increased oxidative
stress, resulting in genetic damage and poor respiratory health outcomes (Meng and
Zhang, 2007).
Recent studies have revealed that dust and aerosols can have harmful effects on
health, such as increased mortality rates and hospitalizations (Geravandi et al.,
2017; Neisi et al., 2017). Particulate matter is known to cause inflammation and
respiratory disease, and it can also lead to pulmonary transformation. Particulate
matter is associated with respiratory mortality and morbidity by generating oxida-
tive and inflammation stress (Hashizume et al., 2020; Hasunuma et al., 2021).
Large-scale soil losses can affect the properties of the desert, which can hinder the
succession and recolonization of specific organisms (Bowker et al., 2006; Pointing
& Belnap, 2014). Climate change is predicted to increase the frequency and magni-
tude of dust events that can occur in the desert, which could also alter the properties
of the desert (Neff et al., 2008; Prospero et al., 2012).
The environment has changed significantly since the Industrial Revolution
occurred in the eighteenth century which was supposed to improve the standard of
living, but it has resulted in various environmental problems (Patnaik, 2018). One of
these is air pollution, which has been taken as a major consideration. It can be clas-
sified as a combination of biological and chemical compounds that can cause dam-
age to the atmosphere (Florentina & Ion, 2011). Due to the absence of a
comprehensive book on the health issues related to dust, this book serves as a start-
ing point and a building block to arrange for a full understanding of the various
health aspects associated or related to dust.
References
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T. (2022). A success story in controlling sand and dust storms hotspots in the Middle East.
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