Quarterly Journal of Social Development (Previously Human Development)

Quarterly Journal of Social Development (Previously Human Development)

A Sociological Analysis of People's Encounter with the Dust Storm Phenomenon in Ilam Township

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Mohammad Amirpanahi 1
Nahal Nafisi 2
Mohsen Gohari 3
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Cultural Studies, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran
3 PhD Student, Cultural Sociology, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran
10.22055/qjsd.2025.49115.3046
Abstract
Dust particles are not merely wandering entities in the air; they also carry narratives of crisis, inequality, and the daily confrontation with risky living conditions. This study employing an interpretive-critical approach and theoritical thematic analysis focuses on the lived experiences of the people in Ilam Township to interpret and describe the various dimensions of the dust crisis. By utilizing sociological and environmental perspectives, it examines the social, economic, and cultural impacts of this phenomenon. The data for this study were collected through semi-structured interviews with 22 residents of Ilam County. The interviewees were selected using purposive sampling based on the highest intensity of experience in relation to the issue under investigation. The findings of the present study reveal four key themes: "hazardous living", "destructive environmental-economic cycle", "ineffective dust management”, and "social/environmental inequality and threat to social capital". The findings indicate that dust particles not only threaten physical and mental health but also lead to changes in livelihood patterns, erosion of social capital, and heightened feelings of deprivation. The inefficiency of environmental and managerial policies, the lack of effective solutions, and the indifference of governmental institutions have placed citizens in an unstable position, oscillating between passive acceptance and the desire to migrate. While dust particles transcend geographical boundaries, managerial responses remain confined to ineffective policies. This study concludes that the phenomenon of dust particles has emerged not merely as an environmental issue but as a social crisis deeply rooted in the daily lives of the studied population. 
Keywords
Dust
Ilam
Risk
Hazardous Environment
Social Capital
Subjects
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Quarterly Journal of Social Development (Previously Human Development)
Volume 20, Issue 3 - Serial Number 79
Vol. 20, No. 3, Spring 2026
Spring 2026
Pages 225-254