What substances contaminated the dust from the dried Aral Sea seabed?

The dust storms originating from the exposed seabed of the Aral Sea are contaminated with a toxic mixture of salt, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides.12

This contamination is a direct consequence of the intensive agricultural practices in the region, which relied on the diversion of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers for irrigation. As these rivers carried agricultural runoff into the lake over several decades, the chemicals accumulated in the water and, subsequently, in the sediment of the receding shoreline. When winds blow across this dried seabed, they carry these hazardous substances into the surrounding areas, causing severe health issues for the local population, including respiratory problems, cancers, anemia, and kidney diseases.12