Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39478735›Full record

ReviewExperimental and therapeutic medicine2024

Saharan dust and respiratory health: Understanding the link between airborne particulate matter and chronic lung diseases (Review).

Vasiliki Epameinondas Georgakopoulou, Chrysoula Taskou, Athina Diamanti, Despoina Beka, Petros Papalexis, Nikolaos Trakas, Demetrios A Spandidos

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Experimental and therapeutic medicine, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Impact of Saharan Dust andInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Vasiliki Epameinondas GeorgakopoulouDepartment of Pathophysiology, Laiko General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.
Chrysoula TaskouDepartment of Midwifery, Faculty of Health and Caring Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece.
Athina DiamantiDepartment of Midwifery, Faculty of Health and Caring Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece.
Despoina BekaDepartment of Ear, Nose and Throat, Laiko General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece.
Petros PapalexisUnit of Endocrinology, First Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.
Nikolaos TrakasDepartment of Biochemistry, Sismanogleio Hospital, 15126 Athens, Greece.
Demetrios A SpandidosLaboratory of Clinical Virology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Saharan dust storms, which originate from the Sahara desert, have a significant impact on global health, especially on respiratory conditions of populations exposed to fine particulate matter that travels across continents. Dust events, characterized by the transport of mineral dust such as quartz and feldspar, lead to the suspension of particulate matter in the atmosphere, capable of traversing long distances and affecting air quality adversely. Emerging research links these dust episodes with increased incidence and exacerbation of lung diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, especially during peak dust emission seasons from November to March. The present review aims to synthesize existing scientific evidence concerning the respiratory health impacts of Saharan dust, examining the environmental dynamics of dust transmission, the physical and chemical properties of dust particles, and their biological effects on human health. Further, it assesses epidemiological studies and discusses public health strategies for mitigating adverse health outcomes. Given the complexity of interactions between atmospheric dust particles and respiratory health, this review also highlights critical research gaps that need attention to better understand and manage the health risks associated with Saharan dust.

Indexed as

particulate matterpublic health strategiesrespiratory healthSahara desertSaharan dust

Identifiers

PMID39478735
PMCPMC11523266

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.