This week, a second cloud of sand from the Sahara, pushed by even more violent winds, will tint the sky yellow above part of France. This desert dust can be harmful to health and cause irritation and respiratory problems.
- The previous episode, between February 4 and 8, resulted in the deposition of several micrograms of particles per square meter over a large part of southern Europe.
- In these particles, researchers have noted the presence of nitrate, sulphate, cadmium, phosphorus, ammonium, iron, aluminum, carbon or even sodium.
For the second time in 15 days, the French sky will become yellowish again. A second wave of sand from the Sahara, even more powerful than the first, will cross over our heads to reach Scandinavia. This ocher sky is not without consequences for health and the dust that is transported can cause irritation and respiratory problems.
Air filled with small particles
Dust from the largest hot desert in the world has an impact on air quality. Copernicus, the European atmosphere monitoring service, noted that the previous episode, between February 4 and 8, had resulted in the deposit of several micrograms of particles per square meter over a large part of southern Europe. . An amount “several hundred times greater” on average. These particles cause irritation and respiratory problems in fragile people.
A study, published in November 2008 in the journal Epidemiology, revealed that in the sand transported from the Sahara there are several particles harmful to health. The researchers noted the presence of nitrate, sulphate, cadmium, phosphorus, ammonium, iron, aluminum, carbon or even sodium. They add that during episodes of desert dust waves, the number of deaths increases by 8.4%. This result, say the researchers, is an observation and cannot lead to the conclusion that the chemical composition of the air is directly responsible. Another study, published on March 12, 2008 in the journal Environmental Geochemistry and Healthhas shown that sand mists are associated with increased cases of asthma as well as eye problems such as conjunctivitis.
prevent cyclones
These mists result from a low pressure system with a lot of wind for “loosen the sand particles from the grounddescribed the researcher at the National Center for Meteorological Research, Vincent Guidard, at France info. This desert dust, once raised, can rise in the atmosphere. They are transported over a more or less long distance.” This dust wave isn’t all bad. The deposit of dust in seawater notably lowers its temperature and prevents the formation of cyclones, which requires the water to be hot.
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