The Effect of PM 10 on Allergy Symptoms in Allergic Rhinitis Patients During Spring Season

Il Gyu Kang, Youn Hee Ju, Joo Hyun Jung, Kwang Pil Ko, Dae Kyu Oh, Jeong Hee Kim, Dae Hyun Lim, Young Hyo Kim, Tae Young Jang and Seon Tae Kim
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Il Gyu Kang: Department of Otolaryngology, Gil Medical Center, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 405-760, Korea
Youn Hee Ju: Department of Otolaryngology, Gil Medical Center, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 405-760, Korea
Joo Hyun Jung: Department of Otolaryngology, Gil Medical Center, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 405-760, Korea
Kwang Pil Ko: Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 406-799, Korea
Dae Kyu Oh: Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 406-799, Korea
Jeong Hee Kim: Environmental Health Center for Allergic Rhinitis, Inha University Hospital, Ministry of Environment, Incheon 400-711, Korea
Dae Hyun Lim: Environmental Health Center for Allergic Rhinitis, Inha University Hospital, Ministry of Environment, Incheon 400-711, Korea
Young Hyo Kim: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inha University College of Medicine Incheon 400-711, Korea
Tae Young Jang: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inha University College of Medicine Incheon 400-711, Korea
Seon Tae Kim: Department of Otolaryngology, Gil Medical Center, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 405-760, Korea

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Background : Asian sand dust (ASD) that originates in the Mongolian Desert in the spring induces serious respiratory health problems throughout East Asia (China, Korea, Japan). PM 10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <10 ?m) is a major air pollutant component in ASD. We studied the effects of PM 10 on allergy symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis during the spring season, when ASD frequently develops. Methods : We investigated the changes in allergic symptoms in 108 allergic patients and 47 healthy subjects by comparing their 120-day symptom scores from February to May 2012. At the same time, the contributions of pollen count and PM 10 concentration were also assessed. We also compared symptom scores before and 2 days after the daily PM 10 concentration was >100 ?g/m 3 . Results: The PM 10 concentration during the 120 days was <150 ?g/m 3 . No significant correlations were observed between changes in the PM 10 concentration and allergic symptom scores ( p > 0.05). However, allergic symptoms were significantly correlated with outdoor activity time ( p < 0.001). Conclusions : These results demonstrate that a PM 10 concentration <150 ?g/m 3 did not influence allergy symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis during the 2012 ASD season.

Keywords: air pollution; particulate matter; allergic rhinitis (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 (2)

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