‘Sarayat’ dust raises health risks

03/05/2026

KUWAIT CITY, May 3: Dr. Abdullah Al-Mutairi, a consultant in pulmonary and critical care medicine, warned asthma and respiratory patients about the impact of current weather fluctuations, particularly dust storms during the “Sarayat” season. In a televised interview, Dr. Al- Mutairi explained that fine dust particles can penetrate deep into the respiratory system and bypass the nose’s natural defenses, increasing the risk of health complications. Exposure to these particles may lead to bronchospasm, increased mucus production, and chest infections. Awareness and prevention are the first line of defense against these complications.

Meanwhile, Abdulaziz Al-Qarawi, a weather forecaster at the Public Authority of Civil Aviation’s Meteorological Department, said the current period represents a transitional phase between winter and summer, known as the “Sarayat” season, which is marked by weather fluctuations, including strong winds, thunderstorms, and high levels of dust and sand. He predicted that these conditions would continue until the end of May.

In this regard, experts stressed that the persistence of such weather conditions requires strict adherence to preventive measures, particularly for asthma patients, to avoid worsening symptoms and health complications caused by dust particles penetrating the respiratory system. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO), in its latest report on sand and dust storms, confirmed that these phenomena pose a growing global health risk, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions such as the Middle East. The organization stated that approximately 330 million people are exposed daily to airborne dust particles, which contribute directly to air pollution and are linked to higher rates of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff