MEMPHIS, Tenn. — High above downtown Memphis, millions of tiny particles have traveled thousands of miles to the Mid-South causing concern for anyone breathing outside air.
That comes as a direct result of dust directly from the Sahara Desert in Africa, being carried across the Atlantic Ocean and hovering over Memphis.
Health experts say the Saharan dust can actually lead to health problems.
“Essentially that sub-Saharan air mass lifts up and brings particles and kind of blankets various parts of the earth, and what that means for us as we breathe in those particles,” Methodist Le Bonheur Doctor Dale Criner said.
A high-pressure system in the Atlantic Ocean this summer produced easterly winds, blowing west from Africa across the Atlantic to the United States leading to lower air quality and causing breathing problems for those with underlying conditions.
“That causes inflammation, increased mucus production, and brachial spasm, which causes wheezing which is really bad for people with pre-existing lung conditions,” Criner said.
Experts say even healthy people can experience shortness of breath because of the dust, especially if they’re outside for long periods of time.
“It can be a serious medical problem,” Criner said.
And while this Saharan dust event typically happens at least once a year, Doctor Criner said if the right precautions aren’t taken for certain susceptible individuals, a reaction could be life threatening.
“If it triggers an asthma attack, and the person is not able to seek medical care in a timely fashion it can be deadly,” Criner said.
A system coming from the northwest moving in the south easterly direction later this weekend will push the African dust away from the Mid-South. Once again experts say it’s a good idea even for people without underlying conditions to simply wear a mask.