Desert dust is a nuisance to drivers

“You have to imagine it as if there was sand lying directly on the paint like sandpaper,” Oberscheider says. “So, definitely don't wash without chemicals, and definitely don't wash with just a little water,” warns the car wash operator. It is important to first soak the car well and then wash the dust off the paint with plenty of water.

There is no point in waiting for rain, regrets Oberscheider. “The sand sticks to the paint. You won't be able to get that out without dry cleaning and high pressure,” he says. You should also replace your cabin air filter regularly.

Desert sand can be fertilizer

Desert sand contains various substances that can theoretically promote plant growth. Once it reaches the ground, desert dust will fertilize nature. However, this effect is only minimally noticeable in this country, says Markus Nussbaumer, a consultant at Inatura.

“You can prescribe these nutrients through desert dust, if washed, as a homeopathic potion,” Nussbaumer says. He explains that the rate of twelve kilograms per hectare on an annual average is negligible.

There are no problems from a medical standpoint

From a medical point of view, desert dust is not a serious problem. For example, Guntram Winder, head of Dornbirn Hospital, reported that “there has been no increase in flow to the outpatient clinic due to desert dust.”