Can Saharan Dust Affect Your Health?

Yes, Saharan dust can affect your health. Fine mineral particles, fungal spores, bacteria, and heavy metals travel thousands of miles from the Sahara Desert and arrive over Florida, the Gulf Coast, and the Caribbean every summer. Research is clear that Saharan dust events cause measurable increases in hospital admissions for both respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, and the people most affected are often the ones who do not realize dust is the cause.