Multiannual assessment of the desert dust impact on air quality in Italy combining PM10 data with physics-based and geostatistical models

•We quantify the impact of desert dust on particulate matter air quality over Italy.•We derive a multiannual dataset of desert dust-PM10 values resolved by site and day.•In Italy desert dust contributes to exceed PM10 limit values fixed by EU and WHO.•Random forest modelling is used to obtain a spatially continuous dust-PM10 field.•Geostatistical model outcomes will serve as a basis to study dust impact on health.