Effects of dust storm on public health in desert fringe area: Case study of northeast edge of Taklimakan Desert, China

This study investigated the effects of dust storms in Bugur County, northeast part of Taklimakan Desert, China, on public health using the hospital records and questionnaire survey for 100 days in February-May 2013. Four types of dust weather were considered: normal day, suspended dust, blowing dust and sand storm. The time series analyses (simple regression, cross-correlation for lag effects, Poisson regression with generalized additive model) were applied together with principal component analysis (PCA) to reveal the association between the daily numbers of inpatients/outpatients, air pollutants (TSP, SO2 and NO2) and meteorology (temperature and wind speed). Primary data, collected in the questionnaire survey from 810 respondents for 10 health symptoms, was analyzed to reveal the association between dust weather and occurrence frequency of symptoms with different severity degrees using PCA. Results of both secondary and primary data analyses showed strong associations between dust weather and the health effects. Levels of the pollutants were higher in dust weather days than in normal days. Diseases related to the respiratory system and ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) were more susceptible to dust weather conditions and air pollution levels than other diseases. SO2 had a stronger influence on increase in likelihood of hospital visits than NO2 and TSP (total suspended particulate matter). Elder people of above 60 and young children of below 15 were more sensitive to dust storms than others.