Dust on desert winds reduces air pollution

Study of Gobi sand blowing over east China finds air stagnates and human-made pollution rises when dusty winds die down

People in China breathe more easily when dust-laden winds blow in from the Gobi desert. Paradoxical as it sounds, desert dust helps to keep human-made pollution down, a new study shows.

Air pollution is a big issue in China, with hundreds of millions of people suffering from respiratory problems. An estimated 1.6 million deaths (17% of mortalities) a year are attributed to China's dirty air.