A Sand storms and dust affects more than 330 million people in 150 countries and Enhances For reasons related to activity HumanWith an increase in health, economics and environmental risks, said the world meteorological organization (OMM).
The WMO ballot in the air in the air No. 9 – July 2025 warns that sand and dust storms cause damage to human health, economics and ecosystems – affecting about 330 million people in more than 150 countries.
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– World meteorological organization (@wmo) July 10, 2025
With new data, OMM notes that the most common combination of drought with poor land and water resources management, as well as the general degradation of the environment, is the main cause of the phenomenon, which is considered harmless to really have serious health consequences.
Most people in the most affected areas are exposed to dust levels above the security threshold established by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The new OMM newsletter to the dust, which is transferred by the wind at very large distances, indicates that in 2024, in the most affected territories, the levels much exceeded the historical average value of 1981-2010.
The most likely causes are unstable agricultural practice, excessive operation of water resources and the development of desertification, all in the context of the climatic crisis.
The consequence of this is that large fertile zones become arid lands prone to the release of a huge amount of dust in the environment
Every year, about 2 billion tons of sand and dust are pulled by the wind into the atmosphere (volume equivalent to 307 peas pyramids), and more than 80 percent originates in the African deserts in the north and half of the East.
These materials pass thousands of kilometers, cross the continents and oceans and enhance their influence on vulnerable regions
At the economic level, the related costs continue to grow due to damage to agriculture, energy infrastructure, transport, as well as public health.
In 2024 they were recorded Sand storms And the special magnitude of dust in East Asia, the Western and Middle East of Africa.
OMM said that the aggravation of this phenomenon requires an improvement in monitoring, forecasts and early warning mechanisms.
With information EFE
