The effect of desert dust on plants and human health which has influence in Elazığ, Diyarbakır, Adıyaman and Şanlıurfa cities

Hot deserts that come into existence on the latitude of 30 ° or away from the internal parts of the sea depending on the dynamic factors constitute the main source of desert dust which is the subject of our study. Desert dust separating from the soil and wafting through the atmosphere via general atmospheric circulation and various meteorological phenomena (e.g. winds, mobile depressions, convection movements) can be carried into remote areas according to their dimensions (PM1, PM2, 5, PM10) through the winds that cause atmospheric transport.Turkey?s being close to the desert region and West winds zone and vulnerable to the effects of Middle Latitude cyclones has caused it to be influenced more. Dust transport that occurs intensively especially in the Sahara Desert, Syria - Jordan Desert, the deserts of Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran deserts shows its effects mostly in South-eastern Anatolia Region in Turkey. Since the cities which are in the area of study have different morphological characteristics, desert dust is affected by different levels.It is the most important factor for the effect of desert dust being so much in south eastern Anatolia Region that this locality is close to deserts and geographical formations are generally plain, in other word there is no orographic barrier blocking convention. The effect of desert dust moving through the South Eastern Anatolia Region to north decreases according to the height in Eastern Anatolia Region and lying of mountainous terrain. The differences are viewed in the chemical and mineralogical structure of dust moving from deserts which affects the working site depending on the deserts having different soil and lithological character. Depending on, the effect of dust on health of both plants and human show an alteration according to seasons and regions.Topography, height, exposure from natural factors and temperature, moisture, precipitation, pressure, winds from climatological factors have influence on determining the moving and influence area of desert dust. These factors have influence on the effects of desert dusts spreading wide area or being limited to just one area.The move of the desert sand and its effect on the nature, undoubtedly, are not equal throughout the year. According to the data received from meteorology, in Elazığ, Diyarbakır, Adıyaman and Şanlıurfa between the years 2009 and 2012, the desert sands become more effective in March, April and May in springs; in June and July in summers; and in September and October in autumns.In these cities, the desert dusts mostly affect human health, economical activities, natural vegetation, and cultivar. As a matter of fact; a rise up to %20 happens in the number of people, who go to a doctor because of respiratory tract sickness such as asthma and bronchitis, when the move of the desert sands is intense. The air quality and the visibility distance get worse. The sand even reduces the productivity of some agricultural plants by blocking up their stomas. The sands, besides, form an effect of fertiliser by enriching the soil in terms of iron through wet or dry deposition. In addition, the sands affect a vast area from the daily used stuffs to the buildings.In this study the effect of desert dust on plants and human health which has influence in Elazığ, Diyarbakır, Adıyaman and Şanlıurfa cities is evaluated and solution proposals are presented for the problems which could arise on this subject.Key Words: Dust From Desert, Air Quality, Human Health, Plant, Asthma, Bronchitis, Respiratory Tract Sickness.