Climate Change and the Risk of Desertification with a Focus in the United States

Abstract

The rapidly intensifying climate change is an impending threat to mankind. Rising temperatures over the past century have resulted in more frequent and intense droughts and increased dust activity. North Africa is major hub of dust generation followed by central Asia and China. The source of dust is not only the local droughts, but it is also transported over long distances. Dust can significantly impact health of exposed population. While PM10 is inhalable, PM2.5 can penetrate the epithelium and sit in the tissues and PM1.0 can enter systemic circulation translocating to different organs. Dust exposure has been implicated in increased incidence and exacerbation of cardiopulmonary conditions including, pneumonia, pro-thrombotic state, and myocardial ischemia. Chronic exposure is associated with condition including silicosis, asthma, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and arsenic toxicity. Dust exposure is also associated with spikes in endemic infections including valley fever in the United States, meningitis in North Africa, and tuberculosis in India. African dust activity has been observed to accelerate algal blooms on the southeast coast of the United States, causing harm to marine and human life. In summary, the health effects of dust are far and wide in time and distance and significantly affect the health of exposed population.