Extreme desert dust storms and COPD morbidity on the island of Crete

Christina Lorentzou1 University of Crete, School of Medicine, University Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Heraklion, Greece

Giorgos Kouvarakis2 Department of Chemistry, Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece

Georgios V Kozyrakis3 Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics, Coastal and Marine Research Lab, Heraklion, Greece

Nikolaos A Kampanis3 Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics, Coastal and Marine Research Lab, Heraklion, Greece

Irene Trahanatzi4 Venizeleion Hospital of Heraklion, Department of Emergency Medicine, Heraklion, Greece

Othon Fraidakis4 Venizeleion Hospital of Heraklion, Department of Emergency Medicine, Heraklion, Greece

Nikolaos Tzanakis5 University of Crete, School of Medicine, University Hospital, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Heraklion, Greece

Maria Kanakidou2 Department of Chemistry, Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece

Panagiotis Agouridakis1 University of Crete, School of Medicine, University Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Heraklion, Greece

George Notas1 University of Crete, School of Medicine, University Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Heraklion, Greece;3 Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics, Coastal and Marine Research Lab, Heraklion, GreeceCorrespondence[email protected]

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Figures & data

Figure 1 Monthly mean of PM₁₀ aerosols in Heraklion, Crete from January to May for the years 2016–2018. Values represent the monthly mean (μg/m³) + standard deviation.

Figure 1 Monthly mean of PM10 aerosols in Heraklion, Crete from January to May for the years 2016–2018. Values represent the monthly mean (μg/m3) + standard deviation.

Figure 2 (A) Particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter below 10 μm (PM₁₀) daily average and hourly mean day maximum during March 2018 in the geographic area of Heraklion. (B) Admissions to the departments of internal medicine (Int Med), cardiology (Cardio) and pulmonary (Pulmo) medicine during March 2018. (C) Total emergency department (ED) visits in Heraklion during the study period. (D) ED cases with dyspnea and COPD admissions at the University Hospital of Heraklion during the study period. We did not identify any increases in the studied parameters the days ensuing a desert dust storm.

Figure 2 (A) Particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter below 10 μm (PM10) daily average and hourly mean day maximum during March 2018 in the geographic area of Heraklion. (B) Admissions to the departments of internal medicine (Int Med), cardiology (Cardio) and pulmonary (Pulmo) medicine during March 2018. (C) Total emergency department (ED) visits in Heraklion during the study period. (D) ED cases with dyspnea and COPD admissions at the University Hospital of Heraklion during the study period. We did not identify any increases in the studied parameters the days ensuing a desert dust storm.

Table 1 Comparison of environmental and clinical information between days with and without desert dust storm. It is reasonable to have mostly southern winds during desert dust storms

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Table 2 Pearson correlation results for the parameters tested. Significant results after Bonferroni correction of p (≤0.05/9=0.0056) are presented in bold

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Extreme desert dust storms and COPD morbidity on the island of Crete

Table 1 Comparison of environmental and clinical information between days with and without desert dust storm. It is reasonable to have mostly southern winds during desert dust storms

Table 2 Pearson correlation results for the parameters tested. Significant results after Bonferroni correction of p (≤0.05/9=0.0056) are presented in bold

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Extreme desert dust storms and COPD morbidity on the island of Crete

Figures & data

Table 1 Comparison of environmental and clinical information between days with and without desert dust storm. It is reasonable to have mostly southern winds during desert dust storms

Table 2 Pearson correlation results for the parameters tested. Significant results after Bonferroni correction of p (≤0.05/9=0.0056) are presented in bold

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