Implementing a Sahara Dust Warning System for Respiratory Health: Insights from Barbados Expert Dr. Dawn Alleyne

Those who have chronic lung diseases, such as interstitial lung disease and chronic obstructive lung disease, also complain of increase in shortness of breath on the days in which there is a heavy dust cover, she said.

Dr Alleyne advised that people who are not asthmatics should still pay close attention to symptoms such as chest tightness when there is exertion, allergic rhinitis, eczema, snoring at night or allergic conjunctivitis. These persons could have an increased risk of developing asthma, she said.

The pulmonologist noted the situation was not unique to Barbados.

“So, you look at studies from Spain, Italy, the United States, and the French Caribbean. Throughout these areas, people are reporting an increased incidence of Sahara dust plumes, increased incidence of deterioration of asthma control, and patients are being hospitalised for not only respiratory illnesses but also cardiovascular illnesses. So, the Sahara dust situation really is one that we really need to look at, not just as a hazy day and a sunset that’s not quite clear but really the impact that it is having on health in general, and we need to take it quite seriously.”

In the case of cardiovascular diseases, she said research shows that the dust seems to affect the cardiovascular system adversely.

Dr Alleyne explained that while larger dust particles are usually deposited pretty high in a person’s airway, causing sneezing and coughing, the smaller ones had the potential to enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation, which can be a precursor to cardiovascular events.

The pulmonologist offered some advice on how people should protect themselves when the Sahara dust is present.

“Parents should make sure their children have their rescue inhalers on them at all times. If the doctor has prescribed a controller medication, parents should ensure they use it as prescribed. If your child is having an adverse reaction to Sahara dust, then that might have to be the day a parent may have to make an executive decision by keeping their child at home. But, if the child must go to school because of exams or so on, they should walk with a mask – an N95 or KN95, which filters out 95 per cent of dust particles,” she said.

“If a person has an adverse reaction to the dust, remote work or learning should be considered. Persons working outdoors, like in construction, when the dust is present should wear masks with filters. Consider using HEPA filters to clean the air within homes and offices. Wet crevices of doors and create tight seals to capture dust to get rid of it easily when it accumulates.”

Dr Alleyne said Barbadians will have to live with the Sahara dust since it seems to be here to stay.

“So, people who have asthma and chronic lung diseases that are on inhalers, known as maintenance or preventative inhalers, I advise them to use those inhalers almost religiously because those will help to mitigate against inflammation that occurs when you have dust intruding into your airways,” she advised.

(BGIS/BT)