The dynamics and characteristics of aeolian dust in dryland Central Asia

Possible impacts on human exposure and respiratory health in the Aral Sea basin

Bibliographic Data

ID4699356
AuthorsGiles F S Wiggs, Giles Wiggs (0000-0002-2131-0724, Drylands Research), Sarah L O''Hara, Sarah L O’hara (University of Nottingham), Sarah L O'Hara, Johannah Wegerdt, J Van Der Meer (0000-0003-2575-0249), Ivan Small (0000-0001-5300-1216), Ian Small, Richard Hubbard (0000-0003-3063-0356, University of Nottingham)
Year2003
Volume169
Issue2
Pages142-157
Publication date2003-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGeographical Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0016-7398 • E-ISSN: 1475-4959
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/1475-4959.04976
OpenAlexW2137024708
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited14

The drying up of the Aral Sea has been described as one of the most staggering environmental disasters of the twentieth century. Over the last 40 years over 36 000 km2 of the former seabed have been exposed, creating a potentially significant aeolian dust source. It is widely believed, but little researched, that increased dust storm activity in the region has had a major impact on human health. In this paper we report the findings of a study into the link between dust exposure and respiratory health amongst children in the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan located on the southern shore of the Aral Sea. The findings indicate that dust deposition rates across the region are high, with sites located near the former shore of the sea being the worst affected. For these northerly regions the former bed of the Aral Sea is the most likely source of dust. The situation for the rest of the country appears to be far more complex. In these regions it appears that local sources and more distant sources to the south and south-west represent significant sediment providers, particularly in the early summer. Provisional analysis of the respiratory health data suggests that children living in the north of the country, where aeolian dust deposition rates are greater, show a lower frequency of respiratory problems. This inverse relationship requires further investigation, but highlights the complexities of environmental and human health inter-relationships

Aeolian processes · Aerosol · Asian Dust · Deposition (geology · Environmental health · Geography · Geomorphology · Human health · Meteorology · Physical geography · Sediment · Shore · Storm · Aeolian processes and effects · Air Quality and Health Impacts · Environmental Science · Geology · Oceanography · Transboundary Water Resource Management