title: The Effect of Dust Storm on the Microbial Quality of Ambient Air in Sanandaj: A City Located in the West of Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The presence of pathogenic microorganisms in the dust storm can cause diseases such as Asthma, Pneumonia, and respiratory infections. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between air-borne particles with airborne microorganisms in normal and dusty days in Sanandaj, a city located in the west of Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Air sampling was conducted during the normal and dusty days through Andersen single-stage impactor (28.3 L/min) for 2.5 min. Air particles concentration (PM10) was measured daily and microbial sampling was also conducted on every six days and on the dusty days. Finally, the data was analyzed by SPSS-16 (ANOVA and paired T-tests).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concentration of airborne microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) was increased by an increase of the airborne particles. Particles concentration in May, June and July (twice per month) was more than of the standard value. The predominant species of bacteria and fungi during the occurrence of Dust storm was Bacillus spp. (56.2% of total bacteria) and Mycosporium spp. (28.6% of total fungi), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that the number of airborne microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) increased during the dust storm. Therefore, the microorganisms in the dust storm can cause biological harmful effects on human health.
authors.affiliation: . faroogh_kazembigi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Heshmatollah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nourmoradi
authors.forename: Kambiz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moradnejadi
authors.forename: Fazel Mohammadi
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Moghadam
authors.forename: Behdad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Khosravi
authors.forename: Lida
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hemati
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khoshniyat
authors.forename: Farogh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kazembeigi
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004391:Dust; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D012621:Seasons; D014887:Weather
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D052638:Particulate Matter