Dust Storm Blankets Iran’s Flood-Hit Province
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s southwestern province of Khuzestan, which has been grappling with flooding and heavy rainfalls over the past weeks, is facing the new threat of dust pollution.
A large dust wave rising from parts of northern Saudi Arabia and south of Iraq, captured by meteorology satellites, is covering Khuzestan in southwest Iran.
Local authorities warned in a statement that dust particles have increased the air pollution index in the province.
In recent years, the border province of Khuzestan has been facing a growing trend in the influx of fine particles, which are generated by drought-hit marshlands in neighboring countries.
The disruptive dust storms have pushed pollution in those border areas to alarming levels, raising health concerns.
The particles, carried by winds, can penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing serious diseases such as lung cancer, asthma and heart problems.
