Yellow sand from China swept over South Korea and Japan yesterday. Schools closed in South Korea, and Japanese citizens were warned to be cautious.
The fine sand from Mongolia’s Gobi Desert sometimes includes toxic chemicals from Chinese factories. The dust has been known to cause respiratory distress.
China has been unwilling to share scientific details regarding the makeup of the dust. Japan and South Korea were working with China on a joint research project regarding the dust storms, but China has refused to share their own data, insisting that it is a national secret.
