Sahara dust in the Caribbean

Observation by James Hospedales:

Air quality from Sahara dust continues to be poor.

LEO Network Comment:

Protecting Yourself During Bad Air Days - The CDC recommends the following actions to protect yourself from Sahara dust events: 1) Spend more time indoors, 2) Choose easier outdoor activities (like walking instead of running) so you don’t breathe as hard. If you must be outdoors and you are asthmatic, consider wearing a mask on bad dust days.

Improving Home Air Quality - Filtering the air in your home with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter is one way to improve air quality. HEPA air filters are commercially available. See also video (attached) on how to make a low-cost DUI air filter using a box fan and a standard air conditioner filter available at hardware stores.

Monitoring Air Quality - To learn more about local air quality conditions, or to become a participant in a global air monitoring network for dust, smoke and other particulates, we recommend Purple Air. This is a citizen science network where small monitoring devices are used (indoor or outdoor) to provide real time measure of air quality. See website link to main page. You can view the Purple Air Map view of the Caribean here.

M. Brubaker