Background & Aim: Evidence on the independent associations of source-specific particulate matter (PM) exposures with health outcomes is limited. Our aim was to investigate the effects of short-term exposure to PM≤ 10μm (PM10) concentrations originating from windblown desert dust and local sources on mortality. Methods: We investigated the effect of exposure to total PM10 concentrations, as well as estimated concentrations originating from desert dust and other sources on total mortality, between the years 2010-2019. We used Poisson regression models to estimate the association between PM10 from different sources, also controlling for possible confounding by season, meteorology, day of the week and holiday effect. Results: During the 10-year study period, 35% of days were affected by desert dust (desert dust PM10> 0μg/m3). An increment of 10μg/m3 in total PM10 concentrations was associated with a 0.52% (lag 0–1, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21, 0.83%) increase in natural mortality. When mutually adjusting non-desert and desert dust PM10 concentrations, a 10μg/m3 increase in non-desert was associated with a 0.45% (95% CI: 0.07% to 0.84%) increase in natural mortality. On the other hand, the effect of desert PM10 (lag 0-1 days) concentrations was non-significant (0.59%; 95% CI: -0.53% to 1.72%). Conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis that daily exposure to traffic-related particles have more toxic effects, compared to ones originating from windblown desert dust, in Athens, Greece leading to increased mortality.