"Dust: Tiny Particles With a Big Impact"

"Dust, dust, dust. It's everywhere,... Enormous masses of the stuff - fine grains of soil, sand, smoke, soot, sea salt and other tiny particles, both seen and unseen - pervade Earth's air, land and water.

Now scientists are beginning to have new respect for the way dust alters the environment and affects the health of people, animals and plants. As global warming raises temperatures and forests are cleared for agriculture and other development, the amount of dust swirling through the Earth's atmosphere is expected to grow. The likely impact is unknown."

Robert S. Boyd reports for McClatchy Newspapers December 30, 2009.