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["Supplementary table  2: Data extraction form for   studies included in  the Systematic Review "]
["S/N","Article Title","DOI","Authors","Name of Journal","Country","Publication Year","Study Research Period","Duration of PM2.5 Exposure","Participant Sample Size","Gender participants","Age participants","Study Exposure Data Source","Measured outcome","Diseases Reported","Harm/Benefit measured","Groups","Study Design","Main description of results","Environmental setting ","Study objective"]
[24,"Temporal Relationships Between Saharan Dust Proxies, Climate, and Meningitis in Senegal","10.1029/2021GH000574","Aara’L. Y. Yarber, Gregory S. Jenkins, Ajit Singh, Aminata Diokhane","Geophysical Research Letters","Senegal",2023,"2012 - 2017","6years","Not provided","Male, Female","All Ages","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Meningitis","Harm: Meningitis linked to seasonal dust and climate patterns","None","ecological time series study","This study highlights a strong positive correlation between meningitis incidence and Saharan dust events in Senegal, emphasizing the critical influence of dust and climate conditions on disease variability. The meningitis season begins in early February, coinciding with peaks in PM2.5 and aerosol optical depth (AOD), and cases reach their maximum in early April, following simultaneous peaks in PM, AOD, and disease incidence in March. Strong correlations were observed between PM2.5 and meningitis (r = −0.70 to −0.79, p < 0.01) and between AOD and meningitis at 0–2 week lags, suggesting that Saharan dust exposure has its strongest health impacts within this timeframe. The season ends in late June during the humid period, roughly six weeks after temperature and humidity anomalies become positive, with low dust concentrations confirmed by visibility measurements (p < 0.05). While dust continues to influence meningitis variability post-peak season, AOD peaks during the humid season have no impact on disease incidence. This study underscores the seasonal relationship between Saharan dust and meningitis and highlights the importance of dust forecasting and targeted public health interventions during the Harmattan season to mitigate outbreaks.results suggest the desert dust may have a significant impact on the onset to the peak of the meningitis season in Senegal, particularly at the 0–2 and 10-week lag, whether that be directly through biological processes or indirectly through changes in human behavior.","This study investigates the relationship between Saharan dust proxies, climate variables, and meningitis incidence in Senegal, focusing on the general population and environmental conditions.","the first objective of this study is to determine temporal relationships, specifically the seasonality and intraseasonal variability, between dust, climate, and meningitis in Senegal from 2012 to 2017. The second objective of this work is to quantify and compare the statistical relationships between various dust proxies, including PM observations, visibility, and indirect ground-based and satellite aerosol measurements, with meningitis lags of 0–10 weeks."]
[28,"Dust and Death: Evidence from the West African Harmattan. ","10.1093/ej/uead088","Adhvaryu A, Bharadwaj P, Fenske J, Nyshadham A, Stanley R. ","The Economic Journal.","Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, the Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo",2024,"August 1985 to December 2006","21 years","Not provided","Male, Female","0-5 years, 15 - 49 years","Saharan dust ","Mortality","specific-cause mortality","Harm: infant mortality due to PM2.5 dust exposure","None","Cohort Study","PM2.5 dust in West Africa has an economically meaningful and statistically significant impact on infant mortality during the years 1986–2006. The average monthly PM2.5 concentration is around 44 μg/m3 over the entire sample. The results indicate that there is little evidence of impacts of dust on mortality in the first month, but there are substantial effects on both infant and child death. Findings suggest maternal vulnerability to dust exposure influences child health.The research paper measures health outcomes related to infant and child mortality, specifically indicating that dust exposure from harmattan trade winds increases these mortality rates in West Africa \nIt also notes that despite health investments responding to dust exposure, surviving children still exhibit negative health impacts. The research indicates that in utero dust exposure significantly increases infant and child mortality, with a one-standard deviation increase in PM2.5 leading to a 1.09-percentage-point rise in infant mortality, equating to approximately 9.7% of the mean. Additionally, reducing dust exposure to EPA standards could decrease infant mortality by 1.98 percentage points, or 17.8% of the mean\nThe analysis also shows that the impact of dust on mortality has been declining over time, suggesting adaptation, with significant effects observed in early cohorts. Dust exposure increases infant and child mortality in West Africa \n\nHealth investments respond to dust exposure, indicating compensating behaviors \nImpacts of dust on mortality decline over time, suggesting adaptation \nEconomic development and health improvements contribute to adaptation","The study is set in 12 low-income countries in West Africa, utilizing two decades of data from 1986 to 2006 to analyze the impacts of in utero dust exposure on infant and child mortality. The data includes demographic and health survey information, such as maternal education, rural living status, and health investments like vaccinations and breastfeeding","large-scale empirical analysis of the impacts of in utero dust exposure in Western Africa on mortality and health in early childhood."]
[29,"Spatial and seasonal analysis of aerosol optical depth distribution in selected cities of West Africa.","10.1007/s42865-025-00096-z","Ayua TJ, Emetere ME","Bull of Atmos Sci& Technol.","Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Mauritania",2025,"2010-2020","11 years","Not applicable","Not applicable","Not applicable","Aerosol ","Environmental condition","Exposure study","The research paper reports that aerosols cause visibility impairment, which negatively impacts the communication and aviation sectors, leading to frequent flight cancellations and poor signal reception \nAdditionally, the young and elderly populations are noted to be more susceptible to respiratory-related health issues, including hospital admissions and aggravated asthma, due to aerosol exposure \nThese findings highlight significant harms associated with aerosol pollution in the studied regions","None","ecological time series study"," The seasonal analysis shows higher mean values of AOD (0.30 ≤ AOD≤ 0.80) occurring during the winter across all the cities studied with the highest numbers reported in Kenema City of Sierra Leone and the least mean values (0.20 ≤ AOD≤ 0.40) during the summer occurring in Ngaoundere city of Cameroon and all the Liberian cities. Dust is a primary aerosol source in West Africa. The sources of PM2.5 exposure during the study period include industrial emissions, vehicular emissions, biomass burning, forest fires, and wind-blown dust, which have significantly affected the climate of West Africa .\nAdditionally, the precursor gases such as SO2, VOCs, and NO2 contribute to enhanced aerosol concentrations observed as PM2.5\nHarmattan winds transport dust from the Sahara, affecting concentrations \nSeasonal variations influence dust concentration levels across cities. The research highlights that young and elderly populations are more susceptible to various health issues, including respiratory-related hospital admissions, emergency room visits, and even symptoms related to Covid-19, which were widely reported globally in 2020 . AOD consistently increases over the years in specific locations\nThese health effects are linked to the increased aerosol concentrations in the atmosphere, which contribute to air pollution and its associated health risks. The study analyzed Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) data from fifty-five West African cities, revealing a significant increase in AOD values over the years, particularly during winter, with the highest levels recorded in Kenema City, Sierra Leone. Seasonal variations showed AOD values following a clear cycle, with winter having the highest mean values \nStatistical analysis indicated significant differences in AOD among the cities, suggesting varying anthropogenic activities contributing to aerosol levels","The study focuses on the aerosol optical depth (AOD) dataset from fifty-five locations in West Africa, covering the years 2010 to 2020. It highlights the spatial and seasonal variability of AOD influenced by factors such as industrialization, vehicular emissions, and natural sources like forest fires and dust \nThe research also notes that the West African region experiences seasonal variations in aerosol absorption and scattering, affecting the Earth's balance \n","analyzes the interannual and seasonal variation of AOD loadings and also examines their correlation between the different cities from 2010 to 2020"]
[5,"Ambient air pollution and respiratory health in sub-Saharan African children: A cross-sectional analysis","10.3390/ijerph18189729","Cai, Y.S., Gibson, H.","International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","Guinea, Senegal, Mali, Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso, Ghana",2021,"2005–2018","14 years","368,366 and 109,664","Male, Female","0-5years","Ambient PM2.5","Environmental condition","Respiratory illness","Harm: Respiratory problems related to high levels of PM2.5","None","Analytical cross-Sectional Study","the study did not observe an association between short-term ambient PM2.5 exposure and respiratory health among young children. The findings of this study reveal several complexities in understanding air pollution’s health impacts on diverse demographic and socioeconomic contexts across multi countries within Sub Saharan Africa. After conducting a pooled analysis, the findings of this study could not provide evidence that there is any observed association between short – term ambient PM 2.5 exposure and respiratory diseases (cough or ALRI) among children under five years. Nonetheless, some individual surveys within the SSA countries, had positive association with cough and reached statistical significance. While no overall association was found, the variability in individual survey results indicates that targeted research is needed to better characterize concentrations, distributions and toxicity of ambient air pollution, as well as their impacts on the developing lungs in children.","The study focuses on the respiratory health of children exposed to ambient air pollution, examining the relationship between environmental pollution and child health outcomes.","analyse the cross-sectional associations between short-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 and self-reported ALRI or cough among children under five in SSA"]
[23,"Stratospheric impacts on dust transport and air pollution in West Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean","10.1038/s41467-022-35403-1","Dai, Y., Hitchcock, P.","Nature Communications","Portugal, Senegal, Mali, Niger",2022,"2004–2019,","16 years","Not applicable","Not applicable","Not applicable","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Exposure study","Harm: Impact of stratospheric conditions on dust and pollution","None","Modeling Study","The findings indicate that Sudden stratospheric warming events (SSWs) significantly influence surface dust concentrations, air quality, and human health. The study evidence indicates that in West Africa, SSWs reduce surface dust levels by 10–20% and decrease high dust pollution days by 10–30% compared to the non-SSW mean, which is based on 1,000 non-SSW episodes. These changes result in health benefits, with reduced PM2.5 levels preventing an estimated 2,040 (±660, 1σ) premature deaths per event based on Community Earth System Model, version 2 (CESM2) data, and 1,180 (±750, 1σ) using MERRA2 data. Similarly, the authors indicate that, in the Eastern Mediterranean, SSWs increase PM2.5 concentrations, leading to 2,460 (±930, 1σ) additional premature deaths per event (CESM2) or 680 (±210, 1σ) (MERRA2). During the study, analysis of the operational subseasonal to seasonal (S2S) models indicates that extreme stratospheric polar vortex events are predictable with 1–2 weeks’ lead time and their impacts on surface air pollution can persist for weeks to months, highlighting the stratosphere’s critical role in air quality predictability for regions like Southern Europe and West Africa.","This study investigates the stratospheric impacts on dust transport and its effects on air quality in West Africa. The focus is on regional environmental factors affecting dust transport.","evidence of the impact of SSWs on African dust export and the consequent impact on air quality over S2S timescales, with chemical transport models and station observations finding up to 30% changes in aerosol concentrations over West Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean caused by SSWs. In particular, SSWs induce meteorological conditions that increase northward African dust transport to the Eastern Mediterranean, while at the same time reduce African dust emission and decrease westward dust transport to West Africa. Consequently, the former leads to enhanced dust burden in the Eastern Mediterranean and the latter results in a reduction in dust burden within West Africa. These changes caused by SSWs worsen air pollution in Southern European countries such as Greece, while they help reduce air pollution in West African countries such as Senegal."]
[17,"Mortality and morbidity for cardiopulmonary diseases attributed to PM(2.5) exposure in the metropolis of Rome, Italy","10.1016/j.ejim.2018.07.027","De Marco, A., Amoatey, P.","European Journal of Internal Medicine","Italy",2018,"2015 -2016","2 years",2873494,"Male, Female","All Ages","Ambient PM2.5","Environmental condition","Cardiovascular illness and respiratory","Harm: Increased  morbidity and mortality ( cardiovascular and respiratory disease)  due to PM2.5 exposure","None","Cohort Study","In this study, temporal daily counts of emergency hospitalizations for cardiovascular diseases (HA-CVD) and respiratory diseases (HA-RD) as well as the mortality due to COPD and IHD were evaluated from short- and long-term PM2.5 exposures for two successive years (2015–2016) in Rome. The results revealed that an increase of 0.35% in HA-CVD (95% CI: -0.71-1.41%) and of 2.57% in HA-RD (95% CI: 0.90–4.30%) is observed per 10 μgm−3 increase in PM2.5. In 2015 and 2016, the highest number of morbidity is related to the PM2.5 concentrations range 17–24 μgm−3 producing significant health impacts on the inhabitants of Rome.  During study investigation, the recorded PM2.5 for this study may have consisted of several heavy metals and ions that the authors could not assess their individual health impacts due to hospital admission as they lead to synergic effects. One key limitation of this study is that the model used is more ecological rather than epidemiological function, and may not account for behavioral differences among the exposed population. In addition, there are several days of missing data; this may affect the actual PM2.5 value and modeled results. Also, the two-year PM2.5 data may not be adequate to better predict their contribution to human health effects. Air dispersion modeling of the PM2.5 data might have assumed uniform distribution and dilution of the pollutants taking into consideration, impact of meteorological factors (temperature, wind, pressure, and precipitation) to the pollutant’s concentration to which the Rome city residents may be exposed","This study investigates short- and long-term exposures to PM2.5 on emergency hospitalizations and mortality related to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, focusing on the general population over 2years","to evaluate the hospital admissions due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases (including stroke) attributed to short-term PM2.5 exposure, as well as the long-term effects of PM2.5 on IHD and COPD mortality by using the new AirQ+ modeling system in 2015 and 2016."]
[7,"Association between long term exposure to particulate matter and incident hypertension in Spain","10.1038/s41598-021-99154-7","Doulatram-Gamgaram, V., Valdés, S.","Scientific Reports","Spain",2021,"2008-2016","8 years",1103,"Male, Female",">18 years","Ambient PM2.5","Environmental condition","Cardiovascular illness ","Harm: Increased morbidity ( hypertension incidence)  due to long-term PM exposure","None","Cohort Study","The findings of this study indicates that long-term exposure to PM2.5 leads to increased hypertension incidence. In a nationwide cohort of non-hypertensive adults, study results show a positive association between PM concentrations (both PM10 and PM2.5) and the incidence of hypertension after a mean follow-up of 7.4 years. The authors provide evidence to support that the particulate component of air pollution is the most important threat for the cardiovascular system.  The results show that the highest PM2.5 exposure quartile (11.80–16.49 μg/m3) was associated with a significant OR for incident hypertension of 1.48 (95% CIs 1.09–2.00). For each 5-μg/m3 increment in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations the odds for incident hypertension were 1.22 (1.06–1.41) p = 0.007 and 1.39 (1.07–1.81) p = 0.02 respectively. The association remained after multivariate weighted analysis of the data, showing a significant dose response, and was consistent across various subgroups.","The study examines the long-term exposure to PM2.5 and its association with the incidence of hypertension, focusing on populations exposed to ambient particulate matter.","investigate the association between long-term exposure to PM and the incidence of hypertension prospectively"]
[27,"The importance of Harmattan surges for the emission of North African dust aerosol","10.1002/2015GL065925","Fiedler, S., Kaplan, M.L.","Geophysical Research Letters","Mauritania",2015,"1979–2010","31 years","Not applicable","Not applicable","Not applicable","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Exposure study","Harm: occurrence of Harmattan surges","None","Modeling Study","The findings of this study indicate that Harmattan surges (HSs) significantly enhance dust aerosol emissions, impacting air quality in North Africa. The results analysis indicate associated emissions in January are mostly limited to areas north of 25∘N with regional contributions of 20–80% to the total emission, when only few HSs occur over the continent. Areas farther south show an increase in associated emission between February and May, when events are most frequently detected near the Atlas Mountains and over Libya. Particularly, March shows fractions of 30–80% of the total emission in association with HSs. This period represents the highest frequency and intensity of HSs, responsible for 30–50% of monthly total emissions in spring across northern Africa, highlighting their crucial role in dust emission. This study like many other European studies focused on March 2004, this period was particularly unusual, contributing significantly to the largest annual emission anomaly compared to long-term averages. Conversely, summer months show the lowest emissions associated with HSs due to their infrequent occurrence and shorter duration.","This study examines the role of Harmattan surges in the emission of North African dust aerosols, focusing on aerosol emissions during the Harmattan period. The study does not specify a particular population.","This study statistically investigates the occurrence of Harmattan surges (HSs) and their impact on the North African dust emission mass for 1979–2010. With the aid of a new automated detection for HSs applied to ERA-Interim data, the first climatology of dust emission amounts associated with such storms has been produced."]
[33,"Heavy Metal Concentration in Harmattan Dust across Selected Stations in Nigeria","10.47011/16.4.4","Francis Olatunbosun AWEDA, Oluwasesan Adeniran FALAIYE and Timothy Kayode SAMSON","Jordan Journal of Physics","Nigeria",2023,"November 2017 to March 2018","2 years","Not applicable","Not applicable","Not applicable","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Exposure study","The study was conducted in Nigeria, where suspended Harmattan dust samples were collected from various cities including Iwo, Oyo, Ilorin, Minna, Abuja, Lafia, and Jos. The research indicates that excessive levels of iron in the body can lead to liver and heart damage, as noted by the World Health Organization\nAdditionally, high concentrations of zinc (Zn) in the air can be detrimental to human health, exceeding WHO-established limits, particularly in Iwo and Minna\nThe study emphasizes the need for public awareness campaigns regarding the dangers of inhaled suspended particles\nThese findings highlight the potential health harms associated with the elemental composition of Harmattan dust","None","Analytical cross-Sectional Study","The research highlights that excessive iron levels in the body can lead to liver and heart damage, as noted by the World Health Organization. The study identified eighteen elements in Harmattan dust samples, including both light and heavy metals, with significant concentrations of Si, Ca, and Fe across various locations in Nigeria. The PIXE analysis revealed varying levels of these elements, with the highest concentrations found in Abuja and Jos, exceeding WHO recommended limits for certain metals. The sources of PM2.5 exposure during the study period include vehicular emissions, resuspended soil, and industrial activities, which contribute to the presence of metals in the atmosphere. The study assessed heavy metals in Harmattan dust across Nigerian cities \nEighteen elements were identified, including Fe, Ca, and Zn \nIlorin had the highest iron concentration at 14% \nAbuja and Jos showed the highest dust particle concentrations \nSignificant correlations were found among various elements\nAdditionally, natural sources such as dust re-suspension and emissions from vegetation also play a role in PM2.5 exposure \nThe study assessed suspended Harmattan dust samples, which are influenced by these various sources. The average suspended dust concentration varied by station in Nigeria \nHighest concentrations were recorded in Abuja and Jos","The study was conducted in Nigeria, specifically sampling suspended Harmattan dust from various locations including Iwo, Oyo, Ilorin, Minna, Abuja, Lafia, and Jos, between November 2017 and March 2018. The sampling points were situated in the Northern Guinea Savanna and the Derived Savanna climatic zones of Nigeria","The study assesses heavy metals in Harmattan dust across Nigerian cities. The study assessed suspended Harmattan dust samples, which are influenced by these various sources. The research aims to analyze functional groups in harmattan dust"]
[22,"Soil Dust Aerosols and Wind as Predictors of Seasonal Meningitis Incidence in Niger","10.1289/ehp.1306640","García-Pando, C.P., Pérez-Stanton, M.C.","Environmental Health Perspectives","Niger",2014,"1986- 2006","20 years","Not provided","Not provided","Not provided","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Meningitis","Harm: Increased meningitis incidence during high dust events","None","ecological time series study","The study underscores the critical role of environmental factors—such as low humidity, high temperatures, and dusty conditions—in driving meningitis epidemics in the region. A national-level model predicting meningitis incidence based on wind and dust achieved a pseudo-R² of 0.57, indicating moderate predictive accuracy. The findings highlight that dust storms and wind patterns are significant contributors to the seasonal incidence of meningitis in Niger. Public health interventions during the Harmattan season, including vaccination campaigns and enhanced medical preparedness, could play a pivotal role in reducing the impact of meningitis outbreaks.","This study examines soil dust aerosols and wind as predictors of seasonal meningitis incidence in Niger, focusing on the general population.","this study extended the work of Yaka et al. (2008) at the national level in Niger by testing seasonal forecast models based on climate and dust information, along with other determinants at both national and district levels, using data that would be readily available in an operational framework. We analyzed and compared a range of negative binomial generalized linear models that were fitted to the meningitis data."]
[14,"Inhalable desert dust, urban emissions, and potentially biotoxic metals in urban Saharan-Sahelian air","10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.08.106","Garrison, V.H., Majewski, M.S.","Science of the Total Environment","Mali",2014,"September 2012 -July 2013","11months",2000000,"Male, Female","All Ages","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Exposure study","Harm: Increased health risks due to dust and metal exposure","None","Analytical cross-Sectional Study","Major sources of pollution include vehicle emissions, biomass burning, and dust resuspension. During the study investigation low PM 2.5/PM 10 ratio suggests a predominance of crustal material in Bamako. The study results highlight the hazardous nature of desert dust in the region, particularly its biotoxic metal content, which may exacerbate respiratory conditions. During dust events, inhalable dust concentrations ranged from 30–70 µg/m³, with 5–10% consisting of biotoxic metals. PM2.5 contributed to 60% of the total inhalable particles. The study findings show that PM composition indicates a mix of crustal and anthropogenic sources in Bamako. Desert dust and urban emissions in the Saharan-Sahelian region contribute to poor air quality and significant health impacts, particularly for respiratory conditions. Policy interventions to reduce exposure to both desert dust and urban pollutants and control both dust and urban emissions could reduce health risks, especially in urban areas.","This study investigates the presence of desert dust and urban emissions in Saharan-Sahelian air, focusing on urban air quality during desert dust episodes in the general urban population.","This study aims to quantify inhalable PM and associated health risks in Bamako, Mali."]
[21,"Saharan sand and dust storms and neonatal mortality: Evidence from Burkina Faso","10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139053","Karimi, S.M., Pouran, H.","Science of the Total Environment","Burkina Faso",2020,"1993 - 2010","18 years",1500,"Male, Female","Newborns","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","specific-cause mortality","Harm: Increased specific cause mortality (neonatal mortality) related to dust storms","None","Case-Control Study","The study found significant associations between various indicators of wealth and neonatal mortality in Burkina Faso, particularly highlighting the impact of floor type in households. Specifically, households with natural flooring had a neonatal mortality rate that was 820 (95% CI: 97–1543) per 100,000 higher compared to those with floors made of asphalt, cement, parquet, ceramic, or carpet. Additionally, male children had a higher chance of neonatal death, with an increase of 784 (95% CI: 306–1262) per 100,000. The study also examined the effects of dust exposure on neonatal mortality. It was assumed that the association of neonatal mortality with a 10-day exposure to a dust event could be ten times that of a one-day exposure. Consequently, a 10-day exposure to dust events with PM10 levels exceeding 150 μg/m³ was associated with an increase in neonatal mortality of 990 per 100,000. For PM2.5 levels beyond 50 μg/m³, this association was 770 per 100,000. Further estimates indicated that each additional day of gestational and birth month exposure to PM2.5 levels over 40 μg/m³ was linked to an average increase in neonatal mortality of 15 (95% CI: −1–31) and 59 (95% CI: 26–93) per 100,000, respectively. The association magnified to 54 (95% CI: 1–108) and 125 (95% CI: 71–179) for exposures over 70 μg/m³, and reached 205 (95% CI: 58–352) for one extra day of birth month exposure to PM2.5 levels exceeding 190 μg/m³. The relationship between neonatal mortality and weather characteristics was inconsistent. While temperature and precipitation during the gestational period were positively associated with neonatal mortality in linear probability model (LPM) estimates, no such association was found in the fixed effects (FE) model for temperature. Precipitation's association shifted to the birth period in this model. Overall, increased average PM levels during the birth month were strongly associated with neonatal mortality across all settings. This study underscores the significant impact of dust events on neonatal mortality in Burkina Faso, particularly emphasizing the importance of environmental factors during critical periods such as  birth month.","This study investigates the link between Saharan dust storms and neonatal mortality in Burkina Faso, focusing on neonates.","the effect of exposure to Saharan SDS on neonatal mortality in Burkina Faso."]
[1,"A 10-year assessment of ambient fine particles and related health endpoints in a large Mediterranean city","10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130502","Khaniabadi, Y.O., Sicard, P.","Chemosphere","France",2021,"2010 - 2020","11 years",868300,"Male, Female","All Ages","Ambient PM2.5","Mortality","specific-cause mortality","Harm: Increased morbidity (Respiratory disease and cardiovascular disease ) and mortality related to PM2.5","None","Analytical cross-Sectional Study","The study found an average PM2.5 concentration of 93.1 µg/m³, with a corresponding 8% increase in mortality for every 10 µg/m³ rise in PM2.5 levels. The findings indicate that particularly high PM2.5 concentrations, leads increase in mortality as shown by the findings, 871 premature deaths, due to non-accidental causes, 515 of which were attributed to cardiovascular diseases. Seasonal variations, especially the influx of Saharan dust during the winter months, exacerbate the health impacts. There is a strong link between PM2.5 exposure and adverse health outcomes, particularly during Saharan dust events that cause wintertime spikes in pollution levels. The authors recommend that effective air quality management strategies are crucial, especially in urban areas, to reduce exposure and mitigate associated health risks.","The study examines long-term PM2.5 exposure and its impact on health outcomes in an urban Mediterranean city, with the general urban population exposed to air pollution.","i) investigate the temporal variability of PM2.5 and its relationships with most common air pollutants in cities (i.e., PM10, NO2 and ozone); ii) estimate the number of premature deaths and hospital admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases attributed to ambient PM2.5 exposure; iii) quantify the annual trends in PM2.5-related mortality and morbidity over the time period 2010e2019; and iv) analyze the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on PM2.5 levels and PM2.5-related deaths and hospital admissions in 2020"]
[6,"An innovative approach to determining the contribution of Saharan dust to pollution","10.3390/ijerph18116100","Lotrecchiano, N., Capozzi, V.","International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","Italy",2021,"2021 (February )","1 month","Not applicable","Male, Female","Not applicable","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Exposure study","Harm: Contribution of dust to exposure to respiratory disease","None","Analytical cross-Sectional Study","The study results indicated that Saharan dust events significantly contributes to local air pollution and health risks. The results analysis reported that the daily PM2.5 limit of 25 μg/m³, similar to the limit for PM10, was exceeded 16 times at the SA station and 17 times at the VC station. It was noted that in February, days with lower pollution levels coincided with favorable weather conditions that supported dispersion. Additionally, it was observed that all three data trends in the study exhibited similar behavior, with differences attributed to the distinct positions of the monitoring stations within the urban context and their corresponding local environmental influences.  Due to their nature, the events that transport Saharan dust are completely unpredictable and therefore unmanageable by man. What can be done to lower pollution levels is the reduction in the hours of ignition of domestic heating and the use of eco-friendly fuels, a significant reduction in traffic emissions, and the control of emissions from agriculture.","The study investigates the contribution of Saharan dust to local pollution levels, focusing on its impact on air quality and general population health.","evaluate the contribution of Saharan dust to the environmental pollution measured by the air quality monitoring stations in an urban context."]
[25,"Exposure Assessment of Ambient PM2.5 Levels during a Sequence of Dust Episodes: A Case Study Coupling the WRF-Chem Model with GIS-Based Postprocessing","doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20085598","Mancinelli, E., Avolio, E., Morichetti, M., et al","https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph","Italy",2023,2021,"17 to 24 June 2021","Not applicable","Not applicable","Not applicable","Aerosol ","Environmental condition","Exposure study","Harm: population exposure to  sequence of dust intrusions, from the Sahara Desert","according to exposure classes of 5 μg m−3 intervals in the range of 0–35 μg m−3","ecological time series study","A sequence of dust intrusions, from the Sahara Desert, affected the central Mediterranean from 17 to 24 June 2021. This event was characterized by an eight-day averaged value of aerosol optical depth (AOD) up to approximately 1 and by a typical omegalike synoptic pattern that favoured the predominance, in central and southern Italy, of south-westerly currents from Africa. the areas affected by Saharan dust vary according to the specific events, which are in turn linked to peculiar atmospheric conditions. The use of an integrated tool such as the one proposed, based on meteorological and chemical modelling, allows one to predict the areas potentially most exposed to the risks associated with extreme pollution events and/or natural hazards. The most precise possible knowledge of the areas affected by PM2.5 intrusions (or, more generally, by dust or other pollutants), combined with the information of the zones with the highest resident population density, allows one to obtain localized information and to facilitate the planning of appropriate prevention measures for these high-risks areas.","this sequence of dust intrusions is simulated with the WRF-Chem numerical model and compared with spaceborne aerosol observations derived from MODIS [37], and with MERRA-2 [38] reanalysis. To evaluate short-term exposure to the dust intrusions, WRF-Chem simulations and the Italian resident population data are coupled by means of the open-source software QGIS [39]. This system represents a modern modelling approach for the development of quantitative analyses to improve hazard assessment and risk mitigation.","estimate the contribution of desert dust to surface PM2.5 levels and population exposure during a sequence of dust intrusions from Sahara to the central Mediterranean in June 2021."]
[19,"Differential mortality risks associated with PM2.5 components: a multi-country, multi-city study","doi.org/10.1097/EDE.0000000000001455","Masselot, P., Sera, F., Schneider, R., et al","Epidemiology","Greece, Spain, Portugal",2022,"1999-2017","19 years","Not provided","Male, Female","65 years and older","Ambient PM2.5","Mortality","All cause mortality","Harm:estimated location-specific relative risks (RR) for mortality associated with daily total PM2.5","None","ecological time series study","Found associations between RR and several PM2.5 components. Increasing the  ammonium (NH4 +) proportion from 1% to 22%, while keeping a relative average proportion of other components, increased the RR from 1.0063 (95%CI: 1.0030-1.0097) to 1.0102 (95%CI:1.0070-1.0135). Conversely, an increase in nitrate (NO3 -) from 1% to 71% resulted in a reduced RR, from 1.0100 (95%CI: 1.0067-1.0133) to 1.0037 (95%CI: 0.9998- 1.0077). Differences in composition explained a substantial part of the heterogeneity in PM2.5 ","city-level daily time series of all-cause mortality, measured PM2.5 concentrations and temperature, as well as estimated annual PM2.5 composition and socioeconomic indicators from the MCC database","The objective of the present study is to identify and compare the all-cause mortality risks associated with the main chemical components of PM2.5, takindg advantage of statistical methodologies for compositional data analysis methods and a large international database gathered within the Multi-Country Multi-City (MCC) Collaborative Research Network."]
[20,"Saharan Dust and Childhood Respiratory Symptoms in Benin","10.3390/ijerph19084743","McElroy, S., Dimitrova, A.","International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","Benin",2022,"November 2017–February 2018 ","4 months",13589,"Male, Female ( mothers and their children)","0-5 years, 15 - 49years ","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Respiratory illness","Harm:dust emissions leading  to respiratoy disease ( Acute cough)","Exposed (us Dust present)  vs. unexposed ( us Dust not present)","Analytical cross-Sectional Study","The study observed an increased risk of cough in children exposed to dust within the two weeks prior to the interview, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.32 (95% confidence interval: 1.11–1.56). Households constructed with finished wall materials provided better protection against dust compared to those with rudimentary wall materials. Additionally, children living in households with finished roofing experienced a reduced risk of cough. The findings indicated that children residing in rural areas were at a higher risk of cough due to dust exposure compared to their urban counterparts. A time-stratified case-crossover analysis was employed to assess the acute effects of dust exposure on childhood cough; however, the study found inconclusive evidence regarding longer-term effects (up to four weeks) of dust exposure on cough risk.","This study examines the impact of Saharan dust on childhood respiratory health in Benin, including both urban and rural populations of children.","examining the link between acute exposure to dust and childhood cough."]
[30,"Saharan dust storms affecting the center of the Iberian Peninsula: Effect on the urban aerobiome.","10.1016/j.atmosenv.2024.120522","Núñez A, Moreno DA, García AM. ","Atmospheric Environment.","Spain",2024,2017,"1 year","Not applicable","Not applicable","Not applicable","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Cardiovascular illness and respiratory","The research indicates that mineral desert particles and associated microorganisms can negatively impact human health, being linked to respiratory syndromes and cardiovascular issues. It is suggested that the combination of particulate matter (PMs) and airborne microorganisms may exert a synergistic harmful effect\nAdditionally, while potentially pathogenic microbes were detected, their levels were low, suggesting a low risk of exposure to pathogens associated with dust storms\nThe study emphasizes that the abundances of pathogenic species were not significantly altered by dust events","None","Analytical cross-Sectional Study","Local aerobiome prevails over changes from dust storms. Foreign microorganisms contribute a low fraction to the atmosphere. Dust events show features linked to intensity and seasonality. PM 2.5  exceeded 14 μg/m³ in winter\nModerate dust events had PM 2.5  >3μg/m³.\nDust events showed increased PM concentrations compared to previous days. The research indicates that dust particles and associated microorganisms can negatively impact human health, being linked to respiratory syndromes and cardiovascular diseases. It suggests that the combination of particulate matter (PM) and airborne microorganisms may exert a synergistic harmful effect, potentially leading to increased clinical attendance during dust events. However, the abundances of pathogenic species were not significantly altered by dust events, indicating a complex relationship between dust exposure and health outcomes. The study found that local aerobiome changes were minimal during dust events, with foreign microorganisms contributing a low fraction to the atmosphere. The abundances of pathogenic species were not significantly altered by dust events, indicating a minor impact on bioaerosol composition \nAdditionally, certain microbial taxa increased in abundance during dust advections, suggesting a potential long-distance origin \nThe research emphasized the need for comprehensive studies to understand microbial diversity and the effects of dust intrusions on urban environments. Local aerobiome prevails over changes caused by dust storms \nForeign microorganisms contribute a low fraction to the local atmosphere \nDust events show features associated with intensity and seasonality \nPathogenic species abundances are not significantly altered by dust events \nSahara dust advections minimally alter bioaerosol composition. The most abundant microbial taxa in the air (Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Ascomycota) were the same during and before the dust advections. representatives of bacteria associated with arid lands from the genera Bacillus, Corynebacterium, Deinococcus and Streptomyces; or fungal species from Acarospora, Aspergillus or Chaeotomium were detected, which would indicate that they probably have a desert origin.","The study was conducted at the rooftop of the \"Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales\" building, located at approximately 20 m above ground level, with geographical coordinates of N 3.689409 and ~700 m above sea level. The research focused on analyzing airborne particles collected over the year 2017, utilizing a continuous sampling methodology. The study also considered meteorological and pollution data from nearby stations to correlate with the collected air samples \n","To understand how these phenomena modify the atmospheric biogeography"]
[3,"Aerosol Optical Depths during Two Harmattan Seasons in Ile-Ife, Nigeria","10.9734/ijecc/2021/v11i630431","Obisesan, Omodara E., null","International Journal of Environment and Climate Change","Nigeria",2021,"November 2018 – March 2019","17 months ","Not provided","Male, Female","Not provided","Aerosol ","Environmental condition","Exposure study","Harm: Increased AOD dust concentrations during Harmattan","None","Analytical cross-Sectional Study","The study found that aerosol optical depth (AOD) values peaked at >2 during the Harmattan period, leading to increased atmospheric haziness and visibility deterioration and visibility values greatly reduced to 1 km on such days. The peak was observed in December, January, and February months. The distribution of the particle size indicated that the dominated aerosol is the coarse mode Harmattan dust indicating a polluted atmosphere during the Harmattan season. The study found that seasonal variation in dust exposure, especially during Harmattan, necessitates targeted preventive measures during high-risk periods. Increased AOD directly correlates with heightened atmospheric haziness, leading to visibility deterioration and reduced visibility values to 1 km on such days, underscoring the need for focused air quality interventions.","AOD measurements  taken during the Harmattan season in a sub -urban environment Ile-Ife, Nigeria, focusing on seasonal variations in aerosol optical depth (AOD) influenced by dust storms and ambient air pollution levels during this period.","the main objective of this study is to determine quantitatively the atmospheric aerosol loading as indicated by the Aerosol Optical Depth during two Harmattan seasons"]
[8,"Association of Meteorological Factors With COVID-19 During Harmattan in Nigeria","10.1177/11786302231156298","Ogaugwu, C., Mmaduakor, C.","Environmental Health Insights","Nigeria",2023,"2020 -2022","2 years",3560000,"Male, Female","All Ages","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Respiratory illness","Harm: Impact of meteorological factors on respiratory disease ( COVID-19 incidence)","None","Analytical cross-Sectional Study","The study found no significant correlation between humidity and daily COVID-19 incidence or mortality in Lagos state. However, there was a negative correlation between humidity and cumulative daily incidence with an average of r = −.166; P < .05 and cumulative daily mortality with an average of r = −.174; P < .05. Wind speed also showed no significant correlation with COVID-19 incidence, cumulative incidence, mortality, or cumulative mortality. The Harmattan season exacerbates respiratory problems and potentially increases the risk of COVID-19 incidence. The study highlights that these meteorological conditions during Harmattan season have some association with COVID-19 in Nigeria. Overall, both meteorological factors are not associated with daily mortality due to COVID-19 irrespective of harmattan and location.","The study investigates the meteorological factors, namely relative humidity and wind speed  affecting COVID-19 incidence during the Harmattan period, focusing on the general population exposed to seasonal dust storms.","investigated the association between the weather components of humidity and wind speed during the harmattan season and COVID-19 incidence and mortality in Lagos state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria respectively. FCT is in the northern geopolitical region of Nigeria and suffers harsh harmattan conditions, whereas Lagos is in the southern geopolitical region of the country and only experiences mild harmattan conditions."]
[11,"Chemical footprints of harmattan dust and traffic corridor particulates monitored at two environmentally distinct geopolitical zones in Nigeria","10.1007/s11356-020-10004-x","Olawale, E., Abiye, O.","Environmental Science and Pollution Research","Nigeria",2020,"2016 - 2018","2 years","Not applicable","Male, Female","Not applicable","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Exposure study","Harm:Chemical analysis of harmattan dust","None","Analytical cross-Sectional Study","In this study the authors modeled a Backward trajectory analysis that identified two primary sources of atmospheric flow affecting the study locations: dust-laden air from the Sahara Desert and maritime flow from the Gulf of Guinea. The model analysis indicated that atmospheric flows from the Sahara Desert and the Gulf of Guinea are the key contributors to PM levels at the study locations, with distinct chemical signatures reflecting both natural and anthropogenic influences.  During Saharan Dust Events, crustal marker elements (Al, Si, Ca) were dominant, with concentrations 5 to 172 times higher than their values during non-dust periods at the traffic corridor (TRF). However, at the traffic corridor, black carbon (BC, 33 μg/m³), manganese (Mn, 700 ng/m³), and lead (Pb, 420 ng/m³) were at least double the levels observed during Saharan Dust Events. Chemical markers associated with Harmattan dust (Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, Fe) showed stronger correlations than those attributed to re-suspension at traffic sites. The study highlights seasonal, annual, and geographic variations in dust mass concentrations, emphasizing the need for continuous monitoring of Harmattan dust to better understand the atmospheric processes influencing PM levels.  ","This study monitors Harmattan dust and traffic particulates in two Nigerian regions, comparing PM2.5 levels between Harmattan dust and urban traffic emissions in both urban and rural populations.","this study focused on focused mainly on the characterization of dry depositions of harmattan dust rather than ambient particulates and the goal is to compare gravimetric and chemical composition within this period and assess the contributions from possible sources."]
[26,"The Associations between Types of Ambient PM(2.5) and Under-Five and Maternal Mortality in Africa","10.3390/ijerph14040359","Owili, P.O., Lien, W.H.","International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo",2017,"2000 - 2015","16 years","Not provided","Male, Female, mothers and their children","0-5 years","Ambient PM2.5","Mortality","All cause mortality","Harm: Increased all cause mortality  due to PM2.5 exposure","None","ecological time series study","In this study, nonlinear analysis revealed a positive association between biomass PM2.5 and both under-five (β = 0.02, p < 0.001) and maternal deaths (β = 0.06, p < 0.001). A significant increase in biomass concentration was associated with a 2% rise in under-five mortality and a 1% increase in maternal mortality.  Mixture PM2.5 was linked to an increased risk in under-five deaths in Western Africa (IRR = 1.01, p < 0.10) Similarly, anthropogenic PM2.5 concentrations led to a 1% increase in under-five mortality and a 3% increase in maternal mortality, with a nonlinear estimate of a 4% increase in maternal deaths. The study results indicate that both types of PM2.5 (Biomass PM2.5 and anthropogenic PM2.5) have significant positive associations with mortality rates.","This study investigates the links between different types of ambient PM2.5 and mortality rates in under-five children and maternal deaths across Africa, focusing on the general population of mothers and children.","determine the types of ambient PM2.5 in Africa and then to investigate the change in PM2.5 concentrations in recent years and further explores the associations between different types of ambient PM2.5 and under-five and maternal mortality in Africa"]
[4,"African dust and air quality over Spain: Is it only dust that matters?","10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.349","Querol, X., Pérez, N.","Science of The Total Environment","Spain",2019,"2001–2016","16 years","Not applicable","Male, Female","Not applicable","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Respiratory illness","Harm: Increased PM2.5 and respiratory issues","None","Analytical cross-Sectional Study","The study of the variation in the relative contributions of Al2O3, Fe2O3 and CaO to the dust fraction evidenced that Al2O3 can be considered a good tracer of African dust. Concentrations of CaO at the urban site are affected by the resuspension of local soils, construction activities and road dust. In contrast, concentrations of Fe2O3 are clearly affected by anthropogenic emissions, mainly brake discs from vehicles. Results show a clear decrease of dust in PM10 and PM2.5 as the distance to N Africa increases, from the maxima of the Canary Islands and SE Iberia (33–35% of annual averaged PM10 and PM2.5 from regional background sites are attributed to African dust outbreaks(ADOs)) to the minimum at N Iberia (7–10%). A marked seasonality of ADOs is observed, with 67–77% of all ADO days occurring in spring and summer in most regions of Iberia and the Balearic Islands, but this pattern contrasts with their prevalence in autumn and spring in NW Iberia (76%) and their distribution throughout the year in the Canary Islands, although there are fewer episodes in spring (13%)","The study investigates the impact of African dust on air quality and respiratory health in Spain, focusing on the general population exposed to dust-related air pollution.","evaluating the impact of ADOs on the concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 across Spain during the 2001–2016 period, followed by a more specific study on the effects of ADOs on the concentrations of locally- and regionally-emitted pollutants in NE Spain, such as BC and UFP, as well as on PMx levels and speciation, by comparing 2009–2016 measurements performed at three (urban, regional and continental) background stations in and around Barcelona."]
[2,"A Network of Field-Calibrated Low-Cost Sensor Measurements of PM2.5 in Lomé, Togo, Over One to Two Years","10.1021/acsearthspacechem.1c00391","Raheja, G., Sabi, K.","ACS Earth and Space Chemistry","Togo",2022,"2019−2021","2 years",1400000,"Male, Female","All Ages","Ambient PM2.5","Environmental condition","Exposure study","Harm: comparison of  Pm2.5 concentration levels  during Harmattan and non-Harmattan","None","Analytical cross-Sectional Study","The study reported an average PM2.5 level of 23.5 µg/m³, increasing by 58% during the Harmattan months. However, the diurnal and weekly trends in PM2.5 are largely controlled by local influences.  Low-cost sensors in resource-limited settings help monitor air quality. The Harmattan heavily elevates baseline levels by 21-56% in December, January, and February. The authors emphasize the importance of reducing local pollution sources in West African cities like Lomé, where a certain amount of baseline PM2.5 levels are guaranteed by the Harmattan. Continued measurements of PM2.5 and other pollutants will help in understanding the distribution of pollution in growing cities and how they are affected by natural and anthropogenic variations. The use of field-calibrated sensors offer a cost-effective solution for monitoring air quality in sub-Saharan Africa, especially during high-risk periods, allowing for timely interventions to reduce health impacts","Field-calibrated sensors are  used to measure PM2.5 in Lomé, Togo, focusing on the PM2.5 measurement network for the general population exposed to ambient air pollution.","i. analyze PM2.5 on annual, monthly, weekly, daily, and hourly timescales. ii. assess the relative ambient air pollution levels in comparison to global air quality guidelines from the World Health Organization."]
[13,"Impact of Saharan dust particles on hospital admissions in Madrid (Spain)","10.1080/09603123.2013.782604","Reyes, M., Díaz, J.","International Journal of Environmental Health Research","Spain",2014,"1 January 2003 to 31 December 2005","2 years","Not Provided ","Male, Female","Not Provided ","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Exposure study","Harm: Increased all cause hospital admissions due to dust particles","None","ecological time series study","This study shows that there is a statistically significant association between the different PM fractions analyzed (PM10, PM2.5, and PM10-2.5) and the causes of morbidity studied according to whether a particular day is or is not marked by a Saharan dust intrusion. As an overall result, it can be stated that on days without dust intrusions, PM2.5 is the PM fraction having the greatest influence on health, while on days with intrusions, it is PM10 concentrations and the coarse fraction that have the greatest impact. In addition, in those cases where a statistically significant association between causes of admission and PM concentrations was obtained, it was shown that for PM2.5 on days without intrusions and for PM10 on days with intrusions, the increase in admissions was largely in a very short term (lag 0 and lag 1). On days with Saharan dust intrusions, the increase in admissions for all causes, except accidents occurred on the same day (lag0) as did the rise in daily mean PM10 concentrations.  Saharan dust contributes to higher hospital admission rates, the results reflect the need to propose measures for reducing PM2.5 air levels and improving alarm systems on intrusion days with respect to PM10 levels by reinforcing the control measures for this pollutant.","This study examines hospitalization rates due to Saharan dust exposure in Madrid, focusing on the general urban population.","identify the impact of Saharan dust intrusions on the association between airborne PM concentrations and hospital admissions due to different causes in the city of Madrid, since the impact of this phenomenon has not yet been quantified despite its great influence on health care administration"]
[31,"Extreme Saharan dust events expand northward over the Atlantic and Europe, prompting record-breaking PM10 and PM2.5 episodes.","10.5194/acp-24-12031-2024","Rodríguez S, López-Darias J. ","Atmos Chem Phys. ","Spain and Portugal",2024,"2000–2022 ","2 years","Not applicable","Not applicable","Not applicable","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Exposure study","The research paper discusses the socio-economic impacts of dust storms, which include loss of visibility, road traffic disruption, accidents and decreases in solar energy production, indicating various harms associated with dust events ","None","ecological time series study","PM 2.5 concentrations ranged from 400-1200 µg m −3 during dust events Record breaking PM 10 of 3069 µg m −3 was measured in Spain \nPM 2.5 reached 688 µg m −3 in mainland Spain. The primary source of PM2.5 exposure during the study period was identified as extreme Saharan dust events, which expanded northward from NW Africa to the Atlantic and Europe, significantly impacting air quality in the Canary Islands, mainland Spain, and continental Portugal.\nThese dust events were associated with high concentrations of PM2.5, reaching levels between 400-1200 µg m−3 during the events. The research identifies six extreme Saharan dust events (duxt episodes) that occurred between February 2020 and January 2022, significantly impacting the Canary Islands, mainland Spain, and continental Portugal. These events led to severe socio-economic consequences, including record-breaking temperatures, wildfires, a 70% drop in solar energy production, and widespread flight cancellations.","Extreme Saharan dust events have expanded to Europe and the Canary Islands. The study focuses on unprecedented extreme Saharan dust events that expanded from subtropical NW Africa to the Atlantic and Europe, significantly impacting the Canary Islands, mainland Spain, and continental Portugal. ","The paper discusses severe impacts on mainland Spain and Portugal"]
[32,"Harmattan Dust Characteristics using Fourier Transform-Infrared and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Method of Selected Sub-Saharan Region in African Stations. ","10.5829/IJEE.2024.15.01.04","Shola Rinde A, Mustapha A, Francis Olatunbosun A","IJEE.","Nigeria",2024,2024,"1 year","Not applicable","Not applicable","Not applicable","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Exposure study","The study identifies harmful elements exceeding WHO guidelines. Harmattan dust has a deleterious impact on human health, particularly through various nasal disorders and respiratory system infiltration, allowing hazardous elements to enter the body \nThe study found that the elemental composition of harmattan dust exceeds WHO-recommended tolerable guideline levels, suggesting potential health risks \nThe research emphasizes the need for preventative measures to mitigate these health effects\nThe abstract highlights the lack of studies in Nigeria regarding the functional groups in harmattan dust, indicating a gap in understanding its health impacts ","None","Modeling Study","Harmattan dust originates from the Sahara and affects human health. the study was conducted in Nigeria, as indicated by the references to various locations such as Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero, and Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, Birni Kebbi. The study identifies harmful elements exceeding WHO guidelines\nDaily dust collection is recommended for health monitoring. The study identifies harmattan dust as a significant source of PM2.5 exposure, characterized as a discrete mass of solid earth crust suspended in the air for extended periods \nAdditionally, inhalation of dust particles is noted as a principal cause of direct exposure to PM2.5 throughout the country. The study indicates that the elemental composition of dust samples exceeds WHO standard values, posing a health risk to humans, which suggests potential adverse health outcomes such as disease incidence and prevalence \nIt is recommended that preventative measures be implemented to mitigate the harmful effects of elevated element concentrations found in the dust. Harmattan dust contains various functional groups and chemicals \nThe highest absorbance was 96% at 3302.4 cm -1 \nElemental compositions exceed WHO standards, posing health risks\nBenzene, 1,1'-oxybis [3-phenoxy-] is a significant compound found\nInhalation of dust particles is identified as a principal cause of direct exposure, further linking it to health risks.The study identified various functional groups in harmattan dust samples collected from four locations in Nigeria, with significant absorption peaks noted at specific wavelengths. The highest absorbance was recorded at 3302.4 cm -1 for Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, indicating a strong presence of N-H bending, while other locations showed varying absorbance levels and functional groups \nAdditionally, the elemental composition of the dust samples exceeded WHO-recommended levels, suggesting potential health risks ","The study focuses on harmattan dust, which is characterized as a discrete mass of solid earth crust suspended in the air for extended periods. \nThe samples were collected from various locations, including Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero, where the elemental composition of dust samples was analyzed","The research aims to analyze functional groups in harmattan dust"]
[12,"Impact of harmattan season on human health in Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria","10.4103/MTSM.MTSM_1_20","Sufiyan, I., Mohammed, Kd","Medical Toxicology & Adverse Drug Experience","Nigeria",2020,"Not provided","Not provided",100,"Male, Female",">18 years","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Exposure study","Benefit: understanding Harmattan and its impacts on human health.","None","Analytical cross-Sectional Study","During a study to examine the impact of the changes in human health and comfort attributable to extreme weather and climatic conditions by Harmattan, respondents from the study area were identified based on them exhibiting different symptoms emanating from the impact of Harmattan.  An analysis of their responses indicates that impacts of Harmattan have positive regression analysis with 0.16. On the basis of response analysis,50% respondents agreed that Harmattan  causes unhealthy conditions in the study area. Poor visibility results in road accident with 30%. In addition, the results also indicate that impact on both human health and the slowdown of economic growth have 10% each. All the common diseases associated with Harmattan are perfectly fit with 0.64 positive regression analyses. While over 20% suffered from flu and catarrh, there are also reports of sexually transmitted disease due to cold temperature which culture bacteria, especially in humid tropical. The authors conclude that the maximum and minimum temperature during the Harmattan season has a great effect on human health and comfort. Harmattan arises due to synoptic scale gradients that align north–south across the Saharan desert, and it is one of the major wind systems of Africa.","This study evaluates the health impacts during the Harmattan season in Keffi, Nasarawa State, focusing on the general population.","examine the impact of the changes in human health and comfort attributable to extreme weather and climatic conditions by Harmattan."]
[16,"Daily Levels of the Harmattan Dust near the Gulf of  Guinea over 15 Years: 1996-2011","DOI: 10.13189/eer.2018.060609","Sunnu, A.K., Afeti, G., Resch, F.","Environment and Ecology Research ","Ghana",2018,"1996-2011","15 years","Not applicable","Male, Female","Not applicable","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Exposure study","impact of Saharan dust relates climate-oriented effects,","None","Analytical cross-Sectional Study","The highest daily average particle diameter, number and mass concentrations during January-February reached 3.17 μm in Harmattan 2005, 148 particles/cm3 in Harmattan 1997 and 6199 μg/m3 in Harmattan 2005 respectively. It was found that the daily mean size has increased from D=1.01 μm in the period, 1996-2000, to D=1.76 μm in 2001-2011. The mass concentration has also increased from M=370 μg/m3 over the period, 1996-2000 to M=1262 μg/m3 in the period, 2001-2011. The increased particle size and corresponding concentrations are likely due to increased stronger winds. The diurnal characteristics of the peak Harmattan which is a period of 4-13 consecutive days of highest concentration within January – February, were also anlaysed over the 15 years.The daily variations of the average size (diameter), number and mass concentrations of the Harmattan dust in January-February and the peak Harmattan dust have been determined over fifteen years. The atmospheric dust size (diameter) range observed is 0.72-3.17 μm; the number concentration vary from 1 to 148 particles/cm3 and the mass concentration  ranges from 4 to 6199 μg/m3. The daily particle number and mass concentrations of the dust observed during the period January-February over the 15 years are 29±19 cm-3 and 571±722 μg/m3 respectively. The peak Harmattan dust distribution shows that the average daily number concentration over the 15-year period is 45±25 cm-3 while the particle mass concentration is 965 ±946 μg/m3","the daily dust particle concentration monitored over 15 years (1996-2011) is used to study the trend of the Harmattan dust phenomenon in Kumasi near the Gulf of Guinea.","predict future dust related climate processes"]
[18,"North African dust intrusions and increased risk of respiratory diseases in Southern Portugal","10.1007/s00484-021-02132-x","T. Silva, M. Fragoso","International Journal of Biometeorology","Portugal",2021,"2006 - 2015","10 years","Not Provided ","Male, Female","Not Provided ","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Respiratory illness","Harm: Dust intrusions","None","Analytical cross-Sectional Study","During the study period from 2005 to 2015, there were a total of 8,933 urgent hospital visits related to respiratory diseases, resulting in 7,123 individuals being hospitalized (with some individuals experiencing multiple hospitalizations). Among these urgent admissions, pneumonia was identified as the primary cause. The elderly population emerged as the most vulnerable age group during this period. Notably, the relative risk of urgent hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases in Central Alentejo increased by 12.6% on days marked by Saharan dust intrusion (p-value < 0.05). Temperature data revealed that mean, maximum, and minimum average temperatures were lower on days without dust, measuring 15.9°C, 21.9°C, and 9.4°C, respectively. In contrast, dusty days recorded higher temperatures, with averages of 22.4°C, 30.1°C, and 14.6°C. Relative humidity was found to be higher on dust-free days at 63.7%, compared to lower levels of 55.5% to 54.1% on dusty days. Precipitation and wind speed did not exhibit significant variations based on dust presence; however, slightly lower values were noted on inventory days. As expected, concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 were higher on dusty days. The results obtained from the Distributed Lag Non-Linear Model (DLNM) confirmed that the relative risk of urgent hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases is significantly elevated by 12.6% during dust intrusion events.","This study examines the impact of North African dust on respiratory health in Southern Portugal, focusing on both urban and rural populations.","first to characterize the North African dust intrusions in the study area, in terms of the temporal and spatial distribution, and the effects of particle concentrations on the air quality at the surface; and second, to evaluate the possible statistical association between the identified dust days and the emergency hospital admissions due to respiratory diseases."]
[15,"Long term spatiotemporal trends and health risk assessment of remotely sensed PM(2.5) concentrations in Nigeria","10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121382","Tariq, S., Mariam, A.","Environmental Pollution","Nigeria",2023,"2001 - 2019","19 years","Not applicable","Male, Female","Not applicable","Ambient PM2.5","Environmental condition","Exposure study","Harm: Long-term hexposure to high PM2.5 levels","None","Analytical cross-Sectional Study"," In this study, the findings indicate that dust from the Saharan desert is the dominant source of PM2.5 in northern states. Moreover, agricultural and deforestation activities cause desertification, along with low rainfall increasing air pollution in northern Nigeria. Whereas southern regions perceived high rainfall over an 8-month rainy season coupled with less than a 4-month dry season per year. These factors contribute dominantly to decreasing the PM2.5 concentration in southern areas, particularly in the Lagos, Delta, Bayelsa, and River. Precipitation contributes dominantly to reducing PM2.5 concentration. The authors concluded that to control air pollution, PM2.5-based air quality zones must be introduced.","This study evaluates long-term trends in PM2.5 levels and associated health risks in Nigeria, focusing on spatiotemporal analysis of PM2.5 and health risk assessment based on remotely sensed PM2.5 data for the general population.","to examine the dynamic characteristics of PM 2.5 concentration during 2001–2019 in Nigeria using directional distribution analysis (DDA) and trend analysis"]
[9,"ATR-FTIR spectral analysis and soluble components of PM10 and PM2.5 particulate matter over the urban area of Palermo (Italy) during normal days and Saharan events","10.3390/ijerph16142507","Varrica, D., Tamburo, E.","International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","Italy",2019,"November 2008–February 2009)","4 months",680000,"Male, Female","All Ages","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Exposure study","Harm: Long-term hexposure to high PM2.5 levels","None","Analytical cross-Sectional Study","This study highlights that particulate matter collected during Saharan dust events contains peaks associated with clay minerals, which are absent during non-Saharan events. For example, during a high-intensity Saharan dust event in Palermo in February 2009, PM2.5 concentrations reached 120 μg/m³, while PM10 levels ranged between 220 and 276 μg/m³. Less intense Saharan dust events resulted in average PM2.5 concentrations of 62 μg/m³ (a 50% increase) and PM10 concentrations between 86–119 μg/m³ (a 65–80% increase). Spectral analysis revealed distinct chemical signatures of Saharan dust, particularly the presence of CaSO4 × 2H2O, which was more evident in coarse particles. The common occurrence of CaSO4 × 2H2O supports the widely accepted hypothesis that sulfation processes are significant in urban environments. ATR-FTIR analysis of filters collected during Saharan dust events further identified clay minerals such as palygorskite, illite, and kaolinite which are characteristic of the Saharan desert. Water-soluble components constituted 50–70% of the total mass of PM10 and PM2.5, with nitrate and sulfate ions showing the highest concentrations, confirming their role in secondary particulate formation. However, the results indicate that ammonium ions were insufficient to neutralize most of the nitric and sulfuric acids present in aerosols.","The study compares PM2.5 and PM10 components in Palermo, focusing on spectral analysis during both normal and Saharan dust event conditions, with exposure affecting the general urban population.","The main objective of this study was to verify the potential of ATR-FTIR to identify organic and inorganic groups present in PM10 and PM2.5."]
[10,"Characterization of PM2.5 chemical composition at the Demokritos suburban station, in Athens, Greece. The influence of Saharan dust","10.1007/s11356-017-8684-3","Vasilatou, V., Diapouli, E.","Environmental Science and Pollution Research","Greece",2017,"2008, January 24 to June 19","5 months","Not applicable","Male, Female","Not applicable","Saharan dust ","Environmental condition","Exposure study","Harm: Elevated toxic chemical composition of aerosol particles during intense pollution episodes","None","Analytical cross-Sectional Study","The mean concentration for PM2.5 recorded during the study period is 16 ± 6 μg/m3. An analysis of the seasonal difference is not statistically significant (P =0.05) as the recorded concentration for the cold period (January–March), is 16.5 ± 6.9 μg/m3 and for the warm period (April–June) 17.5 ± 6.4 μg/m3. In the study area, mineral dust and secondary aerosol are the main PM2.5 components (29 and 34%, respectively). Saharan dust events significantly alter the chemical composition of PM2.5 in Athens During Saharan dust events, the concentration of mineral dust is increased by 35% compared to the days without dust intrusions, while an increase of 68% of the sea salt is also observed. An analysis of the chemical composition of PM 2.5 in the study area showed increased levels of calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), and magnesium (Mg) during Saharan events. The average concentrations of Ca, Fe, and SO4 2− show that these elements are a significant part of the atmospheric aerosol mass all over the year, with high Fe concentrations that may be related to the frequent occurrence of Saharan dust events, Sulfate makes the largest portion of the ions followed by ammonium and potassium. Saharan dust intrusions significantly affected the concentrations of Fe and V, which display an increase during events days by a factor of 2.6–2.7. Other crustal components (such as Ca, Mn) display a lower increase (by a factor of 1.4–1.6). Na+ is also found higher during event days, as a result of sea-salt aerosol transported along with dust across the Mediterranean Sea.  While all other anthropogenic ionic species decrease during Saharan dust days, SO4 2− displays similar concentrations during both Saharan and non-Saharan periods, which suggests enrichment of the natural aerosol transported from Sahara with sulfate.","This study examines PM2.5 chemical composition in Athens and investigates the influence of Saharan dust during dust events.","study the concentrations of major and trace elements and key ionic species in the PM2.5 atmospheric aerosol and discuss on the impact of the different emission sources. In addition, this study focuses on the influence of Saharan dust episodes in PM2.5 concentration levels and separately in the various PM components. Finally, seasonal variability in the metal and ion concentrations is also assessed."]