Association of Sand Dust Particles with Pulmonary Function and Respiratory Symptoms in Adult Patients with Asthma in Western Japan Using Light Detection and Ranging: A Panel Study

Masanari Watanabe, Hisashi Noma, Jun Kurai, Atsushi Shimizu, Hiroyuki Sano, Kazuhiro Kato, Masaaki Mikami, Yasuto Ueda, Toshiyuki Tatsukawa, Hideki Ohga, Akira Yamasaki, Tadashi Igishi, Hiroya Kitano and Eiji Shimizu
Additional contact information
Masanari Watanabe: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago 683-8504, Japan
Hisashi Noma: Department of Data Science, The Institute of Statistical Mathematics, 10-3 Midori-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-8562, Japan
Jun Kurai: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago 683-8504, Japan
Atsushi Shimizu: Regional Atmospheric Environment Section, Center for Regional Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2, Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan
Hiroyuki Sano: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2 Ohnohigashi, Osakasayama 589-0014, Japan
Kazuhiro Kato: Department of Respiratory Medicine, San-in Rosai Hospital, 1-8-1 Kaikeshinden, Yonago 683-0002, Japan
Masaaki Mikami: Hosshoji Clinic, 286-4 Hossyouji, Nanbuchou, Saihaku 683-0351, Japan
Yasuto Ueda: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago 683-8504, Japan
Toshiyuki Tatsukawa: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Matsue City Hospital, 32-1 Noshirachou, Matsue 690-0045, Japan
Hideki Ohga: Ohga Clinic, 4-2-1 Nishifukuhara, Yonago 683-0805, Japan
Akira Yamasaki: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago 683-8504, Japan
Tadashi Igishi: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago 683-8504, Japan
Hiroya Kitano: The Board of Directors, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago 683-8504, Japan
Eiji Shimizu: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago 683-8504, Japan

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) can estimate daily volumes of sand dust particles from the East Asian desert to Japan. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between sand dust particles and pulmonary function, and respiratory symptoms in adult patients with asthma. One hundred thirty-seven patients were included in the study. From March 2013 to May 2013, the patients measured their morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) and kept daily lower respiratory symptom diaries. A linear mixed model was used to estimate the correlation of the median daily levels of sand dust particles, symptoms scores, and PEF. A heavy sand dust day was defined as an hourly concentration of sand dust particles of >0.1 km ?1 . By this criterion, there were 8 heavy sand dust days during the study period. Elevated sand dust particles levels were significantly associated with the symptom score (0.04; 95% confidence interval (CI); 0.03, 0.05), and this increase persisted for 5 days. There was no significant association between PEF and heavy dust exposure (0.01 L/min; 95% CI, ?0.62, 0.11). The present study found that sand dust particles were significantly associated with worsened lower respiratory tract symptoms in adult patients with asthma, but not with pulmonary function.

Keywords: adult asthma; light detection and ranging; peak expiratory flow; respiratory symptom; sand dust particles (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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