The report was presented at the conference of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco. The report states that microscopic dust from Mongolia is routinely present in the air over the western United States during spring months. 

Scientists have voiced concern that microscopic dust particles are easily inhaled by residents of the area. Also, these tainted dust particles are adding to the mix of atmospheric pollution already present along the West Coast of North America. 

"We are interested in Asian dust that comes across the Pacific because particles can have an impact on health, as well as on visibility," said Emily Fischer, a University of Washington doctoral student in atmospheric sciences. 

Fischer found that in years with large Asian dust storms there was an increase in particles in the air over the western United States. Small particles can be inhaled more deeply into the lungs and so are a greater health concern. 

"Local pollution makes the biggest contribution to poor air quality in cities, but my study is looking at (small particles) in remote regions like national parks," she said. "In these places dust can be a larger contributor to the total aerosol concentrations because there is little local pollution. While some of the dust pulses from Asia are small, some of them can be very large."

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