2022

Author(s): Meo SA, Almutairi FJ, Abukhalaf AA, Usmani AM

Objectives: Sandstorms are natural climate calamities causing severe weather changes and health prob-lems. The sandstorm allied issues are of significant apprehension worldwide, mainly in the present pan-demic. This study aims to examine the "sandstorm impact on environmental pollution particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), and daily new cases and deaths due to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) " in Kuwait. Methods: The two incidences of sandstorms occurred in Kuwait, dated 13 March 2021 and 13 June 2021. The data on "PM2.5, CO, NO2, and O-3, and SARS-CoV-2 cases and deaths " were documented three weeks before and after both incidences of the sandstorm. For the first incidence, the data was recorded from 18 February to 12 March 2021; and from 13 March to 2 April 2021. However, for the second incidence of sandstorms, data were documented from 23 May to 12 June 2021; and from 13 June to 3 July 2021. The daily "PM2.5, CO, NO2, and O-3 levels " were recorded from "Air Quality Index-AQI, metrological web, and data on COVID-19 daily cases and deaths were recorded from the World Health Organization ". Results: After the first and second sandstorm incidence, the air contaminants PM2.5 was increased by 26.62%, CO 22.08%, and O-3 increased 18.10% compared to before the sandstorm. SARS-CoV-2 cases were markedly amplified by (21.25%), and deaths were increased by (61.32%) after the sandstorm. Conclusions: Sandstorm events increase air pollutants PM2.5, CO, and O-3 levels, and these pollutants increase the SARS-COV-2 daily cases and deaths in Kuwait. The findings have a meaningful memorandum to healthcare representatives to advise the public about the health hazards of the sandstorm and its link-age with SARS-CoV-2 cases and deaths. (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jksus.2022.102109