“Highly toxic mixture” – a large number of people on the holiday island in the hospital

Massive dust clouds from the Sahara are burying Greece. However, the impressive landscape has a downside: hospitals are overcrowded.

ATHENS – The sky above Greece's capital glows blood red. Large amounts of Saharan dust were blown from Africa to the Mediterranean country. The weather event peaked on Tuesday (April 23). The deep red clouds are moving slowly now, but they have left their mark.

Large amounts of Saharan dust over Greece: many in hospitals in Athens and Crete

Significantly more people than appeared in the emergency rooms of Athens hospitals when Saharan dust blanketed the city. Symptoms: shortness of breath, cough and chest pain. According to the newspaper Proto theme The Shara Dust Alarm was also used in Crete and Kalamanda. A large number of people gave lung therapy training here.

The Greek Lung Association had already warned. Desert dust can be contaminated with dangerous bacteria, fungi or pollen. “A very toxic combination.” Existing respiratory diseases or Allergies They were asked to wear sunglasses and face masks. African dust also contains small particles that can enter the lungs. It also promotes cardiovascular diseases.

Sahara dust is harmful to health – Federal Environment Agency warns

In fact, long-term exposure to Saharan dust can cause health problems for sensitive people. According to the German Weather Service (DWD), people with asthma symptoms are particularly vulnerable. The Federal Environmental Agency similarly writes: “Desert dust, when it occurs near the ground, can be considered to have a negative effect on human life. Health and promotes the development and exacerbation of respiratory diseases.”

Weather phenomena are frequent in Greece – desert dust is also frequent in Germany

Due to the climate, the Attica region around Athens is often affected by the phenomenon, especially in spring and autumn, meteorologists said in the daily newspaper. Kathimerini. Warm southerly air carrying dust from Africa meets colder currents from the north, causing the warm air carrying dust to rise to a height of two kilometers and remain there. Carrying storms Sahara dust returns to Germany again and again. Nikos Michalopoulos of the National Observatory in Athens said the dust particles reflected the sun's rays, causing the sky to glow a faint red. (moe/dpa)