Meteorologists announce that the Saharan dust cloud will remain in Romania until April 2, and dust deposits will be observed in the West, North and Center, where rain is forecast. In Cluj, the dust was visible to the naked eye, and the measurements showed a significant worsening of the air quality, with values above the average accepted by the World Health Organization.
The phenomenon brings not only discomfort, but also problems for children, the elderly or people with respiratory conditions. Doctors advise us to wear a protective mask in such situations.
Exposure to Saharan dust can cause irritation or even respiratory infections.
Alexandru Luchian, founder of the Strop de Aer project: Dust rises from the Sahara and a current of air carries it across the Atlantic or across the Mediterranean. Since yesterday it can also be seen in the West: Timișoara, Oradea. It is in the atmosphere up to 5 thousand meters, but the small particles reached the ground level, for tvrinfo.ro.
Every year we face at least two episodes of Saharan dust that reaches Romania brought by currents from North Africa. The fine sand in the dust cloud contains magnesium, iron, calcium and phosphorus granules, even mercury.
The concentration of harmful elements is very high and can affect not only people with respiratory problems, but also healthy ones. Inhaled dust particles reach the respiratory tract where they are detected by epithelial cells and activate macrophages (a subcategory of blood cells with a role in the immune system) and immune cells. They release cytokines and other inflammatory molecules that have effects on the lung in various respiratory diseases. Also, in the case of people with chronic respiratory diseases, they can develop episodes of wheezing and even mild respiratory failure.
Photo source: Sergiu Razvan
Tags: Saharan dust naked eye Cluj dangerous health Measurements showed significant deterioration air quality
