Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

African desert dust in the Caribbean atmosphere: Microbiology and public health

  • Published:
Aerobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Air samples collected on St. John in the U.S.Virgin Islands were screened for the presenceof viable bacteria and fungi to determine ifthe number of cultivatable microbes in theatmosphere differed between ``clear atmosphericconditions'' and ``African dust-events.'' Resultsindicate that during ``African dust-events,'' thenumbers of cultivatable airborne microorganismscan be 2 to 3 times that found during ``clearatmospheric conditions.'' Direct microbialcounts of air samples using an epifluorescentmicroscopy assay demonstrated that during an``African dust-event,'' bacteria-like andvirus-like particle counts were approximatelyone log greater than during ``clear atmosphericconditions.'' Bacteria-like particles exhibitingautofluoresence, a trait of phototrophs, wereonly detected during an ``African dust-event.''

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arimoto R., Duce R.A., Savoie D.L., Prospero J.M., Talbot R., Cullen J.D., Tomza U., Lewis N.F. and Ray B.J.: 1996, Relationships among aerosol constituents from Asia and the North Pacific during PEM-West A. J. Geophys. Res. 101, 2011–2024.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chadwick O.A., Derry L.A., Vitousek P.M., Huebert B.J. and Hedin L.O.: 1999, Changing sources of nutrients during four million years of ecosystem development. Nature 397, 491–497.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiapello I., Prospero J.M., Herman J.R. and Hsu N.C.: 1999, Detection of mineral dust over the North Atlantic Ocean and Africa with the Nimbus 7 TOMS. J. Geophys. Res. Atmosph. 104, 9277–9291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Darwin C.: 1845, An account of the fine dust which often falls on vessels in the Atlantic Ocean. Q. J. Geol. Soc. London 2, 26–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drabick J.J., Gomatos P.J. and Solis J.B.: 1990, Cutaneous cladosporiosis as a complication of skin testing in a man positive for HIV. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 22, 135–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eilers H., Pernthaler J., Glockner F.O. and Amann R.: 2000, Culturability and in situ abundance of pelagic bacteria from the North Sea. Appl. Env. Microbiol. 66, 3044–3051.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham W.F. and Duce R.A.: 1979, Atmospheric pathways of the phosphorus cycle. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 43, 1195–1208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gravesen S.: 1979, Fungi as a cause of allergic disease. Allergy 34, 135–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffin D.W., Kellogg C.A. and Shinn E.A.: 2001, A rapid and efficient assay for extracting DNA from fungi. Lett. Appl. Microbiol. submitted.

  • Gugnani H.C., Gupta S. and Talwar R.S.: 1978, Role of opportunistic fungi in ocular infections in Nigeria. Mycopathologia 18, 155–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henriksson A.S., Sarnthein M., Eglinton G. and Poynter J.: 2000, Dimethylsulfide production variations over the past 200 ky in the equatorial Atlantic: A first estimate. Geology 28, 499–502.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herman J.R., Krotkov N., Celarier E., Larko D. and Labow G.: 1999, The distribution of UV radiation at the earth's surface from TOMS measured UV-backscattered radiances. J. Geophys. Res. 104, 12059–12076.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howitt M.E., Naibu R. and Roach T.C.: 1998, The prevalence of childhood asthma and allergy in Barbados. The Barbados National Asthma and Allergy Study. Am. J. Resp. Crit. Care 157, A624.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howitt M.E.: 2000, Asthma Management in the Caribbean-An Update. Postgrad. Doct.-Caribbean 16.

  • Jickells T.D.: 1999, The inputs of dust derived elements to the Sargasso Sea; a synthesis. Mar. Chem. 68, 5–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korenyi-Both A.L., Kornyi-Both A.L., Molnar A.C. and Fidelus-Gort R.: 1992, Al Eskan disease: Desert Storm pneumonitis. Mil. Med. 157, 452–462.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li X., Maring H., Savoie D., Voss K. and Prospero J.M.: 1996, Dominance of mineral dust in aerosol light-scattering in the North Atlantic trade winds. Nature 380, 416–419.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mann J.C.: 1986, Composition and origin of material in pre-Columbian pottery, San Salvador Island, Bahamas. Geoarchaeol. 1, 183–194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maynard N.G.: 1968a, Aquatic foams as an ecological habitat. Z. Allg. Mikrobiol. 8, 119–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maynard N.G.: 1968b, Significance of airborne algae. Z. Allg. Mikrobiol. 8, 225–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maynard N.G.: 1976, Relationship between diatoms in surface sediments of the Atlantic Ocean and the biological and physical oceanography of overlying waters. Paleobiol. 2, 99–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moulin, C., Lambert C.E., Dulac F. and Dayan U.: 1997, Control of atmospheric export of dust from North Africa by the North Atlantic Oscillation. Nature 387, 691–694.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muhs D.R., Bush C.A., Stewart K.C., Rowland T.R. and Crittenden R.C.: 1990, Geochemical evidence of Saharan dust parent material for soils developed on quaternary limestones of Caribbean and Western Atlantic Islands. Quaternary Res. 33, 157–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagarajan S. and Singh D.V.: 1990, Long-distance dispersion of rust pathogens. Ann. Rev. Phytopathol. 28, 139–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nouh M.S.: 1989, Is the desert lung syndrome (nonoccupational dust pneumoconiosis) a variant of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis? Report of 4 cases with review of the literature. Respiration 55, 122–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parmenter C. and Folger D.W.: 1974, Eolian biogenic detritus in deep sea sediments: A possible index of equatorial ice age aridity. Science 185, 695–698.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patial R.: 1999, Mountain desert silicosis. J. Assoc. Physic. India 47, 503–504.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedgley D.E.: 1986, Long Distance Transport of Spores. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry K.D., Cahill T.A., Eldred R.A. and Dutcher D.D.: 1997, Long-range transport of North African dust to the eastern United States. J. GeoPhys. Res. 102, 11,225–11,238.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prospero J.M.: 1968, Atmospheric dust studies on Barbados. B. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 49, 645–652.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prospero J.M., Bonatti E., Schubert C. and Carlton T.N.: 1970, Dust in Caribbean atmosphere traced to an African dust storm. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 9, 287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prospero J.M. and Nees R.T.: 1986, Impact of the North African drought and El Niño on mineral dust in the Barbados trade winds. Nature 320, 735–738.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prospero J.M.: 1999, Long-term measurements of the transport of African mineral dust to the southeastern United States: Implications for regional air quality. J. Geophys. Res. 104, 15,917–15,927.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: 2000, Coccidioidomycosis in travelers returning from Mexico-Pennsylvania, 2000, 49, 1004–1006. Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta.

  • Ritchie M. and Pedgley D.: 1989, Desert locusts cross the Atlantic. Antenna 13, 10–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg J. and Burt P.J.A.: 1999, Windborne displacements of desert locusts from Africa to the Caribbean and South America. Aerobiologia 15, 167–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savoie D.L. and Prospero J.M.: 1980, Water-soluble potassium, calcium, and magnesium in the aerosols over the tropical North Atlantic. J. GeoPhys. Res. 85, 385–392.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shah S.A. and Romick T.L.: 1997, Subspecies differentiation of Salmonella by PCR-RFLP of the ribosomal operon using universal primers. Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 25, 54–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shinn E.A., Smith G.W., Prospero J.M., Betzer P., Hayes M.L., Garrison V. and Barber R.T.: 2000, African dust and the demise of Caribbean coral reefs. Geol. Res. Lett. 27, 3029–3032.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smit E., Leeflang P., Glandorg B., Elsas J.D.V. and Wernars K.: 1999, Analysis of fungal diversity in the wheat rhizosphere by sequencing of cloned PCR-amplified genes encoding 18S rRNA and temperature gradient gel electrophoresis. Appl. Environ. Microb. 65, 2614–2621.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith G.W., Ives L.D., Nagelkerken I.A. and Ritchie K.B.: 1996, Caribbean sea-fan mortalities. Nature 383, 487.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swap R., Garstang M., Greco S., Talbot R. and Kallberg P.: 1992, Saharan dust in the Amazon basin. Tellus 44, 133–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swap R., Ulanski S., Cobbett M. and Garstang M.: 1996, Temporal and spatial characteristics of Saharan dust outbreaks. J. GeoPhys. Res. 101, 4205–4220.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torsvik V., Salte K., Sorheim R. and Goksoyr J.: 1990, Comparison of phenotypic diversity and DNA heterogeneity in a population of soil bacteria. Appl. Environ. Microb. 56, 776–781.

    Google Scholar 

  • Venkatesh M.V., Joshi K.R., Harjai S.C. and Ramdeo I.N.: 1975, Aspergillosis in desert locust (Schistocerka gregaria Forsk). Mycopathologia 57, 135–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weir J.R., Garrison V., Shinn E. and Smith G.W.: 2000, The relationship between gorgonian coral (Cnidaria: Gorgonacia) diseases and African dust storms. In: D. Hopley, P.M. Hopley, J. Tamelander and T. Done (eds), 9th International Coral Reef Symposium. Bali, Indonesia, p. 78.

  • Williams P.L., Sable D.L., Mendez P. and Smyth L.T.: 1979, Symptomatic coccidioidomycosis following a severe natural dust storm. An outbreak at the Naval Air Station, Lemoore, Calif. Chest 76, 566–570.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. United States Geological Survey, Center for Coastal Geology and Regional Marine Studies, 600 4th Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA

    Dale W. Griffin & Virginia H. Garrison

  2. National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 916, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA

    Jay R. Herman

  3. United States Geological Survey, Center for Coastal Geology and Regional Marine Studies, 600 4th Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA

    Eugene A. Shinn

Authors
  1. Dale W. Griffin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Virginia H. Garrison
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jay R. Herman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Eugene A. Shinn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Griffin, D.W., Garrison, V.H., Herman, J.R. et al. African desert dust in the Caribbean atmosphere: Microbiology and public health. Aerobiologia 17, 203–213 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011868218901

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011868218901

Search

Navigation