Introducing the causes, origins and effects of dust in Iran

This study provides an overview of the cause, source, origin and effects of dust storms. Desertification and climate change are the most important envi- ronmental challenges in arid regions of the world, and their effects, includ- ing air pollution, affect people all over the world. Although air pollution is   a harmful and pathogenic phenomenon for all people and at all ages, a wide range of people, including the elderly, pregnant women, children and the sick, are more vulnerable. Dust is one of the environmental problems that ulti- mately causes respiratory and skin diseases in humans. Iran is also one of the countries in the arid and semi-arid region, which is surrounded by dust storms. The internal source of dust storms includes southwest, east and cen- tral Iran. In general, there are two approaches to environmental change. The first approach is to ignore these changes and continue the current situation, which will only result in more environmental degradation. Another approach is to identify these changes from the past to the present and to develop an environmental management program to control these changes and to plan to improve the environmental situation.