Optical Measurements of Particulate Matter in the El Paso–Juarez Region: Natural Mineral Dust and Soot Magazine for Environmental Managers

Particulate matter in desert cities contains significant amounts of mineral dust and soot. Both have large components that may be considered as natural emissions because mineral dust results from wind dislodging loose matter from the Earth’s surface while in regions, such as the American West, a significant fraction of soot results from wildfires. Mineral dust and soot affect climate through their effects on solar radiation. Mineral dust may scatter solar radiation, while soot absorbs radiation, warming the Earth. Both mineral dust and soot have some effects on cloud formation. In addition, it is well established that soot leads to cardiopulmonary disease and lung cancer, while recent studies show that mineral dust is also a danger to human health. The El Paso–Juárez region, with a population near 2.7 million, is an example of an urban area where mineral dust and soot affect urban air quality. This region is surrounded by the Chihuahuan desert, where severe dust storms lead to high mineral dust concentrations. There are several measurement and modeling studies that identify mineral dust and soot as the predominant particulate matter pollutants here. Grant no. NA16SEC4810006