THE ORIGINS AND SOURCES OF DUST PARTICLES, THEIR EFFECTS ON ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH, AND CONTROL STRATEGIES: A REVIEW

Dust storms can cause certain environmental impacts such as reducing solar radiations, geochemical and biogeochemical effects, affecting marine primary producers or autotrophs, (thus reducing the disposal of carbon dioxide and global warming), affecting snow’s Albedo. One reason why dust causes such global effects is its transferability range up to 20,000 km. Dust can also negatively affect the respiratory, cardiovascular, cerebral-vascular systems; cause or intensify meningitis, fever, pain, allergies, and viral infections; damage the DNA of skin and lung cells. The Sahara and West China are known as the primary sources of dust worldwide. The most important methods of dust storm prevention and controling it can be biological, sprays (water), mechanical, chemical, and engineering. Biological methods are the best-known ways of preventing dust storms and desertification. This can be achieved by creating vegetation and ecological barriers, such as forest belts. Considering the increasing number and periods of dust storms and dust effects on the environment and human health, this review article aims to determine appropriate strategies to prevent dust occurrence and explain the effects of dust on health and the environment.