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

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Masanari Watanabe⁴  Hisashi Noma⁷  Jun Kurai⁴  Atsushi Shimizu²  Hiroyuki Sano³  Kazuhiro Kato⁵  Masaaki Mikami¹  Yasuto Ueda⁴  Toshiyuki Tatsukawa⁶  Hideki Ohga⁸  Akira Yamasaki⁴  Tadashi Igishi⁴  Hiroya Kitano⁹  Eiji Shimizu⁴ 

[1] Hosshoji Clinic, 286-4 Hossyouji, Nanbuchou, Saihaku 683-0351, Japan; E-Mail:;Regional Atmospheric Environment Section, Center for Regional Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2, Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan; E-Mail:;Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2 Ohnohigashi, Osakasayama 589-0014, Japan; E-Mail:;Department of Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago 683-8504, Japan; E-Mails:;Department of Respiratory Medicine, San-in Rosai Hospital, 1-8-1 Kaikeshinden, Yonago 683-0002, Japan; E-Mail:;Department of Respiratory Medicine, Matsue City Hospital, 32-1 Noshirachou, Matsue 690-0045, Japan; E-Mail:;Department of Data Science, The Institute of Statistical Mathematics, 10-3 Midori-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-8562, Japan; E-Mail:;Ohga Clinic, 4-2-1 Nishifukuhara, Yonago 683-0805, Japan; E-Mail:;The Board of Directors, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago 683-8504, Japan; E-Mail:

关键词: adult asthma;    light detection and ranging;    peak expiratory flow;    respiratory symptom;    sand dust particles;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph121013038

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.