Satellite and ground-based optical monitoring of dust storms and allergenic disease patterns in Karakalpakstan

Dust storms are an increasingly important environmental health concern in arid regions, yet quantitative links between dust load and allergenic disease remain poorly characterised in Central Asia. This study develops an integrated monitoring framework for Karakalpakstan, combining satellite-derived aerosol optical indicators, ground-based optical measurements and routine health statistics. Daily multispectral satellite products were used to retrieve dust-sensitive aerosol indices at high spatial resolution, while sun photometers and visibility observations provided local optical constraints. A dust storm activity index was defined from threshold exceedances and merged with district-level counts of asthma, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis emergency visits. Seasonal and interannual relationships were analysed using time-series regression and exposure–response modelling. Results show coherent spatial patterns of dust activity and allergenic disease, with pronounced peaks during spring storm seasons and elevated risks in districts closest to major dust sources. The findings support dust-informed public health alerts and targeted adaptation measures in Karakalpakstan.

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