Dust Storms Intensify Globally, Exposing Billions to Health Risks

Sand and dust storms are becoming a growing global health crisis, with increasingly powerful weather systems exposing billions of people to dangerous air pollution levels. According to recent data reported by Mongabay, approximately 3.8 billion people faced dust exposure exceeding World Health Organization safety limits between 2018 and 2022—a striking 31% increase from just 15 years earlier.

These “mega” dust storms now affect an estimated 330 million people annually, triggering widespread respiratory illness and infectious disease outbreaks in affected regions. The storms carry more than just sand and dust particles; they collect and transport various pollutants across vast distances, creating complex health hazards far from their origins.

Climate change is the primary driver behind this alarming trend, scientists warn. Rising temperatures and extreme weather patterns are generating more powerful storm systems with higher wind speeds, while environmental degradation—including vegetation loss and declining soil health—makes landscapes more vulnerable to dust mobilization. Hurricane wind speeds in the North Atlantic alone increased by nearly 30 kilometers per hour between 2019 and 2023.

“The frequency and severity of sand and dust storms is increasing globally,” explains Aaron Cohen from the Health Effects Institute. “Sand and dust pollution travels over very long distances and picks up all kinds of other pollutants.” As these supercharged storm systems move closer to populated areas, the World Health Organization and World Meteorological Organization emphasize the urgent need for enhanced monitoring and protection measures to safeguard public health from this escalating environmental threat.