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Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists discover surprising cause of dangerous dust problem impacting US region: 'A dominant contributor'
Scientists discover surprising cause of dangerous dust problem impacting US region: 'A dominant contributor' Farmland left idle and dormant is creating an unhealthy dust problem in California. Over 1 million acres of fallow farmland are contributing to the growing dust, which has health and climate implications in the state's Central Valley. What's happening? According to the University of California, Merced, approximately 77% of fallowed land in California is connected to 88% of the human-caused dust events. UC Merced professors studied this phenomenon and published their findings in the journal Communications Earth & Environment. The issue is especially prevalent in Fresno, Kern, and King counties, where corn, wheat, and cotton fields are routinely fallowed. Here, unplanted farm fields are susceptible to wind erosion, resulting in dust that is often contaminated with chemicals and pathogens. This effect is linked to human respiratory diseases and even death. Certain fungal diseases spread through dust and disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. The particulate matter may contribute to everything from cardiovascular issues to dementia, as well as traffic fatalities due to reduced visibility on roads. California's Central Valley is a significant source of dust, as it is a major agricultural production region in the U.S. Researchers are studying the impacts of dust on local snowmelt and water resources. "Because our study points to fallowed or idled farmlands as a dominant contributor, that may change how we estimate overall dust impact," said one of the researchers, Adeyemi Adebiyi. Do you worry about air pollution in your town? All the time Often Only sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Why is farmland dust significant? Unfarmed lands have been expanding in recent years due to limited water resources and economic decisions. The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act has also limited the amount of water that farmers can use annually. When these lands remain exposed and uncultivated, they produce more dust, which impacts the environment and surrounding communities. Increased dust activity is affecting the health of people and natural ecosystems. More dust in our atmosphere creates ripple effects and hinders plant growth. Overmining, overgrazing, and extended agricultural breaks are creating conditions where degrading land is fueling our changing climate and threatening the global food supply. What's being done to control harmful dust? In the study, the UC Merced researchers recommended that farmers plant cover crops and ground cover plants to reduce dust and improve soil health. They also suggested land transitions to use fallowed farmlands for habitats and renewable energy. To mitigate public health risks and regional climate change associated with precipitation and snowmelt, agricultural practices in the Central Valley must shift. Fortunately, there are many natural solutions to address air pollution issues, like the increase in dust. Some communities have explored organic and water-based dust suppressants containing biodegradable surfactants to address dust issues. Preventing the spread of dust may also involve reducing vehicle exhaust fumes, maintaining proactive air quality monitoring, and promoting sustainable land use. Increasing dust is one of the many critical climate issues affecting California's Central Valley and other agricultural regions worldwide. By raising awareness of the issue and volunteering your time and efforts, you can take local action in your community to address dust pollution and preserve more breathable air for everyone. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
31-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
The California region where 5 million residents face growing health risk
One of America's richest farming hubs is facing a hidden threat that could jeopardize the health of local residents and the future existence of the land. California 's Central Valley and its neighboring drylands grow a third of the country's crops and power a multibillion-dollar economy. But scientists say the region is now confronting the escalating danger of dust storms driven by climate change, unchecked development, and vast swaths of idle farmland. A major study published in Communications Earth and Environment in April found that 88 percent of dust storms caused by human activity — so-called 'anthropogenic dust events' — were linked to fallowed farmland between 2008 and 2022. With hundreds of thousands more acres expected to sit idle by 2040, researchers warn the crisis is only beginning. 'Dust events are a big problem, especially in the Central Valley, and have not gotten enough attention,' said UC Merced professor Adeyemi Adebiyi in a May 2025 university report. The phenomenon is hitting five major regions: the San Joaquin Valley, Salton Trough, Sonora Desert, Mojave Desert, and Owens-Mono Lake area — home to roughly 5 million Californians. Experts at UC Dust, a multi-university research initiative focused on the issue, say the relationship between degraded land and dust is dangerously self-perpetuating. 'There is a two-way linkage between dust emission and landscape degradation, with one reinforcing the other, leading to potentially irreversible shifts in California's dryland ecosystems,' the group wrote in its latest update. While some dust-control efforts exist, scientists say they're not enough—and warn that without more intervention, the storms will only increase (Pictured: Aerial shot of suburban residential streets in Bakersfield, California) Dust has always been part of life in inland California, but human activity is making it more frequent—and more hazardous. The storms have already caused massive disruptions, ranging from serious health impacts to deadly crashes. In 1991, an agricultural dust storm led to a 164-car pileup that killed 17 people in the San Joaquin Valley. And in 1977, wind gusts nearing 200 mph in Kern County triggered a destructive storm that killed five and caused $34 million in damages, according to KVPR-FM. Today, many storms are so large they can be seen from space. One of the most serious concerns is Valley fever—a potentially fatal infection caused by fungal spores that live in the soil and spread through the air during dust events. The illness causes symptoms like coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Cases are rising fast: California logged 12,637 cases in 2024, the highest on record. The first four months of 2025 have already surpassed the same period the year before. A Nature study cited in the new report found Valley fever cases jumped 800 per cent in the state between 2000 and 2018. 'Valley fever risk increases as the amount of dust increases,' said Katrina Hoyer, an immunology professor at UC Merced. Central California — where much of the state's fallowed land is located — is now considered a hotspot for the disease. And while some dust control efforts are in place, they've been limited and costly, according to UC Dust. 'The future of dust in California is still uncertain,' Adebiyi said. 'But our report suggests dust storms will likely increase.'
