Section 4 -

The Chemical, Biological, & Physical Characterization of Dust Particulates from the Middle East Mark B. Lyles, H.L. Fredrickson, A.J. Bednar, H.B. Fannin, and T.M. Sobecki

In the Middle East, dust storms are a persistent problem and can be easily inhaled into the mouth, nasal pharynx, and lungs due to their small size and abundance. The acute and chronic effects from exposure to this dust have not been well studied nor has the dust been characterized as to its chemical composition, mineral content, or microbial flora. Experiments were designed to study the Middle East dust as to its physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. Kuwaiti and Iraqi dust samples from different locations were collected and processed. Initial chemical and physical characterizations of each sample including particle size distribution and inorganic analysis was conducted using ICP-MS for 57 different elements. Finally, characterization of biologic flora was performed using classical microbiological and molecular techniques to identify microbes and fungi. The results from this study suggest that further research may be warranted to provide insight into potential health risks.