The Effect of PM10 on Allergy Symptoms in Allergic Rhinitis Patients During Spring Season

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Il Gyu Kang²  Youn Hee Ju²  Joo Hyun Jung²  Kwang Pil Ko³  Dae Kyu Oh³  Jeong Hee Kim⁴  Dae Hyun Lim⁴  Young Hyo Kim¹  Tae Young Jang¹  Seon Tae Kim² 

[1] Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inha University College of Medicine Incheon 400-711, Korea; E-Mails:;Department of Otolaryngology, Gil Medical Center, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 405-760, Korea; E-Mails:;Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 406-799, Korea; E-Mails:;Environmental Health Center for Allergic Rhinitis, Inha University Hospital, Ministry of Environment, Incheon 400-711, Korea; E-Mails:

关键词: air pollution;    particulate matter;    allergic rhinitis;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph120100735

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

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). PM₁₀ (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <10 μm) is a major air pollutant component in ASD. We studied the effects of PM₁₀ 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 PM₁₀ concentration were also assessed. We also compared symptom scores before and 2 days after the daily PM₁₀ concentration was >100 μg/m³. Results: The PM₁₀ concentration during the 120 days was <150 μg/m³. No significant correlations were observed between changes in the PM₁₀ 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 PM₁₀ concentration <150 μg/m³ did not influence allergy symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis during the 2012 ASD season.

【 授权许可】

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