ABSTRACT
Objectives Sandstorms are natural climate calamities causing severe weather changes and health problems. The sandstorm allied issues are of significant apprehension worldwide, mainly in the present pandemic. This study aims to examine the “sandstorm impact on environmental pollution particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), and daily new cases and deaths due to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)” in Kuwait. Methods The two incidences of sandstorms occurred in Kuwait, dated 13 March 2021 and 13 June 2021. The data on “PM2.5, CO, NO2, and O3, and SARS-CoV-2 cases and deaths” were documented three weeks before and after both incidences of the sandstorm. For the first incidence, the data was recorded from 18 February to 12 March 2021;and from 13 March to 2 April 2021. However, for the second incidence of sandstorms, data were documented from 23 May to 12 June 2021;and from 13 June to 3 July 2021. The daily “PM2.5, CO, NO2, and O3levels” were recorded from “Air Quality Index-AQI, metrological web, and data on COVID-19 daily cases and deaths were recorded from the World Health Organization”. Results After the first and second sandstorm incidence, the air contaminants PM2.5 was increased by 26.62%, CO 22.08%, and O3 increased 18.10% compared to before the sandstorm. SARS-CoV-2 cases were markedly amplified by (21.25%), and deaths were increased by (61.32%) after the sandstorm. Conclusions Sandstorm events increase air pollutants PM2.5, CO, and O3levels, and these pollutants increase the SARS-COV-2 daily cases and deaths in Kuwait. The findings have a meaningful memorandum to healthcare representatives to advise the public about the health hazards of the sandstorm and its linkage with SARS-CoV-2 cases and deaths.
ABSTRACT
Sandstorms are a natural metrological phenomenon, frequently occurring in many arid and semi-arid regions of the world. The sandstorm dust contains environmental pollutants, microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. These events are the primary sources of air pollution and its long-distance transport. Thus, sandstorms are becoming a greater concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this novel study aimed to investigate the effect of a sandstorm on "environmental pollutants particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and day-to-day new cases and deaths due to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. On March 12, 2021, a sandstorm occurred in the Riyadh region, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. The data on PM 2.5, CO, NO2, and O3 were recorded three weeks before and three weeks after the onset of the sandstorm, from February 20, 2021, to March 12, 2021, and from March 13 to April 2, 2021. The daily PM2.5, CO, NO2, and O3 levels were documented from the metrological websites, and Air Quality Index-AQI, COVID-19 daily cases, and deaths were obtained from Saudi Arabia's official coronavirus website. After sandstorm, the air pollutants, CO level increased by 84.25%; PM2.5: 76.71%; O3: 40.41%; NO2: 12.03%; and SARS-CoV-2 cases increased by 33.87%. However, the number of deaths decreased by 22.39%. The sandstorm event significantly increased the air pollutants, PM2.5, CO, and O3, which were temporally associated with increased SARS-COV-2 cases. However, no significant difference was noticed in NO2 and the number of deaths after the sandstorm. The findings have an important message to health authorities to timely provide information to the public about the sandstorm and its associated health problems, including SARS-CoV-2 cases and deaths.