At the 42^nd  Session of the International Seminars on Planetary Emergencies held in Erice 19-24 August, within the Climate and Health Session Dr Mark B. Lyles presented his studies on Windblow Dust and Human Health and Dr Dale Griffin on Climate influences atmospheric dispersion of desert dust: Implications for human health.

The relevance of dust storm as infectious agents’ transmission system has been emphasized in both presentations and some data are available at a slide show on Pathological effects of inhaled mineral dust, as well as an article on The Scientist

A clear example of the size and health risk of such dust storm is shown in some movie present on Internet.

via videosift.com

Data on dust storm events and distribution is available at Nasa website on Visible Earth

The two monitoring panels (PMP) of the World Federation of Scientists (WFS) on Climate and Infectious Diseaeses are planning a Network of monitoring units to verify and confirm the relevance of dust storm in Health, particularly long-distance transmission of pathogens. Scientists interested in such study are invited to contact IAC editorial team.