Index Geophysics

Health Impact Assessment Associated with Exposure to PM10 and Dust Storms in Kuwait

Little information is available on the assessment of health impact concerning the Middle Eastern dust storms and PM10 concentration levels despite the aridity of the region and frequent dust storms occurring in this part of the world. A prospective study was conducted to determine the association between dust particles and morbidity and mortality rates for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in Kuwait. Spearman and Pearson’s correlations were used to identify such associations. Results revealed a significant correlation between dust storms, suspended dust and rising dust (p < 0.01). Correlation between the occurrence of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and dust storms showed that PM10 concentrations were significantly correlated with bronchial asthma at the 0.05 level (Pearson r = 0.292). Significant correlations at the 0.01 level were shown between bronchial asthma and both acute lower respiratory tract infection (r = 0.737) and acute upper respiratory tract infection (r = 0.839). Respiratory and cardiovascular mortality rates were both equal to 0.62 per 10,000 persons, each corresponding to 8.7% proportionate mortality rate. This study provides a good evidence of the consistent relationship between dust storm events, PM10 concentration levels, and respiratory diseases.

Ali Al-Hemoud

Ali Al-Dousari

Ahmad Al-Shatti

Ahmed Al-Khayat

Weam Behbehani

Mariam Malak

dust storms

PM10

respiratory

cardiovascular

morbidity

mortality

health impact

Meteorology. Climatology

QC851-999

MDPI AG

2018-01-01T00:00:00Z

article

2073-4433

10.3390/atmos9010006

https://doaj.org/article/73efa54cae0f40cc9d9ea40c30a9704d

Atmosphere, Vol 9, Iss 1, p 6 (2018)

EN

http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/9/1/6

https://doaj.org/toc/2073-4433

Journal Licence: CC BY