Mineral dust: An overview

Abstract

It has been estimated that the 1990s global annual mineral dust emissions were of the order of 1490±160 Tg yr Mineral dust comes from a wide variety of sources through both natural processes such as wind erosion and volcanic activity, and many human activities. It has varied significant impacts on the environment, economies and society but also brings some benefits. Climate change and activities of growing human populations are affecting the nature and frequency of dust emissions and the levels of impacts. Urbanisation is leading to increased risks of exposure for some people. Health effects of exposure are well recognised and widely regulated but wider effects of dust are often accepted as a fact of life. Information on impacts and appropriate responses is often not readily accessible or intelligible to the general public or to administrators leading to failures to take steps to reduce impacts and exposure. There is a need to provide clear information for non-specialists. Improved monitoring and modelling of emissions, and evaluation of costs and benefits are also needed. Research requires collaboration between geologists, geomorphologists, economists, atmospheric scientists, microbiologists, medical practitioners, soil and agricultural scientists and ecologists.