What brings the dust of the Sahara and how it could harm your health

For several days now, a gigantic opaque spot has covered part of the Atlantic, something that, without a doubt, is a sign that another layer of Saharan air is moving towards America.

However, in the Caribbean they have already begun to feel its effects and even several countries recommend that the population wear a mask and avoid outdoor activities given the high concentrations of particles in the air. They also warn boats about the reduced visibility caused by dust from the Sahara.

Olga Mayol , an expert at the Institute of Tropical Ecosystems at the University of Puerto Rico, explained to the BBC that the current cloud has the highest concentrations of dust particles observed in the region in the last half century.

This impressive phenomenon began to be observed in an area of ​​West Africa a week ago and has now traveled more than 5,000 kilometers to the Caribbean, including the territory of the Americas, such as Venezuela.

Because of this, the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that the Saharan dust column will continue to move westward through the Caribbean Sea until it reaches areas of northern South America, Central America, and the United States Gulf Coast in the coming years. days.

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What is it and how often does it occur

It is a dry, particle-laden mass of air that forms over the Sahara desert in late spring, summer, and early fall and generally moves westward over the tropical Atlantic Ocean every three to five days.

It is usually of short duration, since it does not stay more than a week, but the presence of winds in certain seasons of the year makes it more likely that it can cross the Atlantic and travel more than 10,000 kilometers.

Generally, the activity of this cloud increases in mid-June, peaks from late June to mid-August, and begins to decline rapidly after that date.

Harmful effects on health

The dry, dusty air in this layer is approximately 50% less humid than the typical tropical atmosphere, which can damage skin and lungs.

When these powders manage to reach populated areas of Europe and America, "they can provoke the appearance of allergies and asthmatic crises in many people, especially those who already suffered from respiratory problems or immunosuppression," in consultation with the Pan American Health Organization.

As if that were not enough, many health experts are concerned about those who are already dealing with lung problems related to the current coronavirus pandemic.

For example, the Barbados Meteorological Office noted that people with respiratory problems or allergies should seek shelter or have medications on hand in an emergency.

For its part, the Pan American Health Organization recommends that the population affected with chronic respiratory diseases, such as COPD or asthma, the elderly, pregnant women and children, use respiratory protectors, such as face masks or a damp cloth handkerchief to cover the nose and mouth. as well as wearing glasses.

The organization also indicates that, if there is a sensation of foreign bodies in the eyes, they should be washed with plenty of water, preferably drinkable, boiled or chlorinated, and before doing so, make sure to wash their hands very well. She also advises covering water storage sources such as drums, ponds, or wells.

Specialists agree in alerting vulnerable groups, since the Sahara dust can contain particles that produce symptoms such as dry cough, sore throat, itching, watery eyes, sneezing and runny nose.

See also:

In photos: the immense Sahara dust cloud that covers Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

Giant Sahara dust cloud covers the Caribbean islands

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