Dust clouds blowing across the Atlantic Ocean carry hidden pathogens that might reach the United States.

While the dust itself can cause respiratory stress, scientists have now confirmed that clouds originating in Africa carry microbial life that can cause disease in humans, plants, and other animals far from the source.

Desert-dust storms whip up and disperse an estimated 2.4 billion tons of soil and dried sediment throughout the Earth’s atmosphere annually.

“Since a gram of desert soil may contain as many as 1 billion bacterial cells, the presence of airborne dust should correspond with increased concentrations of airborne microorganisms,” said Dale Griffin, a scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey.

LiveScience.com – Bacteria & Fungi Ride Dust Across Oceans