Atmospheric Dust as an Air Quality Hazard to the World Population

Atmospheric dust is an important contributor to atmospheric particulate matter (PM) and a significant factor to air quality degradation worldwide. In this study, we assess atmospheric dust as an air quality hazard to the world population. Near-surface dust concentrations are quantified through the synergy of the “LIdar climatology of Vertical Aerosol Structure” (LIVAS) atmospheric dust data record, established based on Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) aerosol profiles, and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) ERA5 information on planetary boundary layer (PBL). The health risk to the global population is estimated using empirically derived epidemiological exposure–response relationships that approximate the association between PM concentrations and adverse health outcomes. Our findings reveal elevated health risks in regions affected by major desert sources or over densely populated and highly industrialized regions. Approximately nine-out-of-ten (~91% or ~6.8 billion people) of the global population experience total dust concentrations below the World Health Organization (WHO) annual-mean PM10 guideline. However, a substantially larger proportion of approximately one-out-of-three (~33.5% or ~2.5 billion people) is exposed to submicrometer-mode dust concentrations exceeding the respective PM2.5 recommended threshold. The study highlights atmospheric dust as an important air quality hazard and demonstrates the value of satellite observations for assessing trustworthy health risks and supporting environmental policies.