Sand storm raging in several far eastern regions is on the wane

The sand storm from China, which hit the Russian Far East, has begun to subside. The RIA Novosti correspondent reports that special laboratories are thoroughly studying the composition of the sand and taking regular air probes. Rita Liberova, chief sanitary physician of the State Sanitary Surveillance in Khabarovsk Territory, told the press on Monday that "no toxic chemical elements have been discovered in the accumulated dust particles." She said that the radiation background fluctuates within the limits of 11-15 micro-roentgen, and in exceptional cases reached 19, while the dangerous level of 20 micro-roentgen has not been registered, the radionuclide content is at the zero mark. RIA Novosti learned from the Far Eastern Regional Centre for Civil Defence and Emergency Situations that the sand storm which is about 800 metres wide and 2,000 km high emerged in North-Eastern China on April 7 and at a speed of 30-35 metres per second moved in the north-eastern direction embracing Russia's Amur and Chita Regions, and districts in Khabarovsk Territory. According to the Emergencies Ministry of the Russian Federation and the State Sanitary Surveillance Centre, the sand storm poses no threat for the health of the population.

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