[Natural airborne pollen contamination of clothes and facial skin].
OBJECTIVE
To clarify natural airborne Japanese cedar pollen contamination of clothes (cotton made T shirt and cap) and face skin for preventive strategy against pollinosis.


METHODS
Ten non-pollinosis high school students, wearing T-shirt and cap, stayed after face washing in outdoor (school yard) and in-door (school room) for 2 hours alternatively. Wet clothes of each of three different qualities (cotton, cotton blended polyester and wool) were also left at ten points of the schoolyard. Contaminated pollens were collected using adhesive tape and counted under a microscope.


RESULTS
Pollen contaminations were lesser in school room than school yard. Lesser contamination was revealed on the surface of cotton-polyester blended clothes without statistical difference when compared with cotton and wool made clothes.


CONCLUSIONS
From this study, in going out wearing of cotton-polyester blended coat and cap, and after returning home, face washing and keeping coat and cap on a hanger at entry hall are recommended for pollen prevention.
Okuda
Minoru
M
Japan Allergy & Asthma Clinic, Nippon Medical School.
Ohkubo
Kimihiro
K
Gotoh
Minoru
M
Ishida
Yuko
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003020:Clothing; D005145:Face; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011058:Pollen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012574:Schools; D012867:Skin; D013784:Textiles