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Photo from NOAA
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NASA forecasters are saying the brunt of the latest Saharan dust storm will hit Louisiana this Friday, but should begin to show up today.

This isn't our first rodeo with these extremely wide plumes of sand from the Sahara desert in Africa, but that doesn't negate the possible health risks it could pose.

In an article from KPEL965.com we read:

Head of environmental sciences at LSU Health New Orleans, Dr. James Diaz, says, “We know that breathing in these small dust particles can make all those conditions worse and if those conditions get worse, you are at greater risk of getting COVID-19.”

 

Diaz goes on to say:

Those with asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, and heart conditions should be most cautious.  Diaz says the dust can also impact pollen allergy sufferers and possibly increase the transmission of COVID-19. “The pollens may be attracted to some of these dust particles and you inhale them both together.  The same thing could happen to a virus.  It could become attracted to a dust particle.”

Additionally, we learn from a story posted by NOLA.com  that from what NASA forecasters are saying and what we've actually experienced in the past, once our chances for rain diminish after this evening, we should see a reddish tint added to the color of our sunrises and sunsets for the next couple days and a haziness in the sky during daylight hours.

All in all I guess we could sum this up by stating that while we might all enjoy the vivid colors of sunrise and sunset, if you're experiencing any kind of pulmonary or respiratory issues, you might want to enjoy this with your mask on, or from behind a window inside a well air conditioned building.

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