A
salt storm is a low-lying cloud of airborne
salt that hovers over large areas, the result of wind sweeping over salt flats. Salt storms usually occur in places with large aboveground deposits of salt, such as those surrounding the Great Salt Lake in
Utah and the
Aral Sea. Salt storms are also a frequent phenomenon in the Salar de Uyuni region in
Bolivia.
Effects
Salt storms near the Aral Sea pose a serious
health hazard to surrounding areas.
Surface runoff from nearby farms has resulted in the pollution of the Aral Sea with toxins like pesticides and fertilizers. As the sea evaporates, the toxic pollutants in the water crystallize along with other minerals to form salt flats. When the toxins and minerals from the salt flats are blown into the air by these storms and
inhalation, the toxins and minerals may cause
throat cancer and
lung cancer,
infant mortality, decreased
life expectancy and
.
Salt storms can also block visibility and cause chemical damage to surrounding structures.
See also
