We have to make a decision that we will feel its hot presence among us, with what this entails.
The phenomenon is due to low barometric systems in the Western Mediterranean, which lead large quantities of African dust to our region.
But let us look at the implications of this presence on our health.
Eyes and respiratory are the ones that suffer most.
Adenovirus that is transported with desert dust causes a serious eye condition.
Symptoms are, initially, similar to those of a simple conjunctivitis.
Symptoms are tingling, tingling and blushing in the eyes and a feeling of a foreign body.
Later there may be intense eye swelling, dizziness and blurred vision.
It can also develop into viral keratitis with severe vision loss and even more severe annoyances.
If left untreated it can last even several months.
This viral keratoconjunctivitis is highly adhesive and is transmitted from person to person even through simple contact.
That is why we recommend strict adherence to hygiene rules in our day-to-day activities.
It is good for sufferers due to African dust not to dispense with drugs from pharmacies, without prior ophthalmological examination and medical prescription.
What we can do preventively is, in the days when African dust is visited, to avoid the many external work.
Frequently wash our eyes
with clean hands.
Do not rub our eyes under any circumstances.
Do not use towels but only disposable tissues.
We should throw the tissues immediately after use so that the viruses are not spread.
In addition, we can use artificial tears or saline ampoules to rinse our eyes.
Wear sunglasses to avoid additional irritation from ultraviolet radiation.
In addition to this, research by Greek and foreign scientists identified dangerous heavy metals in African dust.
Lead, zinc, chromium, vanadium, arsenic, iron and nickel are among the substances contained in it.
Scientists are concerned about the impact of toxic African dust on health and the environment.
Measurements other than physical data in desert dust also show substances produced by anthropogenic activity.
Specifically, in cases of intense presence of dust, each gram is found:
173 μgr of lead
60 μg of zinc
10 μg of chromium
6 μg of vanadium
African dust is increasingly visiting Greece in recent years due to the desertification phenomenon recorded in the Sahara, as well as climate change in Greece.
The desertification of the Sahara is progressing at an immeasurably rapid pace, with desolate areas spreading at the expense of cultivated land, increasing the amount of dust that can be transported to the atmosphere.
African dust has been associated with the health problems of the Greek population, as it has been observed that in days with intense dust concentrations, imports into hospitals are increasing with patients experiencing respiratory and cardiac problems.
This is because particles with dangerous substances can easily enter a person's respiratory system.
So when we have African dust we must avoid external work and on the other hand, when we have some inconvenience must ask for the help of a specialist ophthalmologist.
