A systematic review of global desert dust and associated human health effects
Citation: Zhang X, Zhao L, Tong DQ, et al. A systematic review of global desert dust and associated human health effects. Atmosphere, 2016:7(12);158.
There is a need to further elucidate the mechanisms underlying the harmful effects of desert dust on respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Further research is also needed to better understand the association between desert dust and the morbidity of other diseases, such as those of the reproductive system and nervous system.
This systematic review aimed to assess the potential health impacts from desert dust particles across the world. There is an imbalance between the areas most exposed to dust and the areas most studied in terms of health effects. For respiratory and circulatory mortality, both positive and negative associations were found for PM10 of desert dust, but only a positive relationship was reported between PM2.5-10 and mortality.
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