title: Associations between subjective symptoms and serum immunoglobulin E levels during Asian dust events.
abstract: Asian dust is a seasonal meteorological phenomenon caused by the displacement of atmospheric pollutants from the Mongolian and Chinese deserts. Although the frequency of Asian dust events and atmospheric dust levels have steadily increased in the eastern Asia region, the effects on human health remain poorly understood. In the present study, the impact of Asian dust on human health was determined in terms of allergic reactions. A total of 25 healthy volunteers were tested for a relationship between serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and subjective symptoms during a 3-day Asian dust event recorded in April 2012. They filled daily questionnaires on the severity of nasal, pharyngeal, ocular, respiratory, and skin symptoms by a self-administered visual analog scale. Serum levels of non-specific IgE and 33 allergen-specific IgE molecules were analyzed. Spearman rank-correlation analysis revealed significant positive associations between nasal symptom scores and 2 microbial-specific IgE levels (Penicillium and Cladosporium). Microbes migrate vast distances during Asian dust events by attaching themselves to dust particles. Therefore, some of these symptoms may be associated with type 1 allergic reactions to certain type of microbes.
authors: Division of Surgical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan. ota24n2@med.tottori-u.ac.jp.
authors: Shinji
authors: S
authors: Otani
authors: Division of Health Administration and Promotion, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan. issey@med.tottori-u.ac.jp.
authors: Kazunari
authors: K
authors: Onishi
authors: Division of Health Administration and Promotion, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan. muhs@med.tottori-u.ac.jp.
authors: Haosheng
authors: H
authors: Mu
authors: Division of Health Administration and Promotion, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan. thosoda@med.tottori-u.ac.jp.
authors: Takenobu
authors: T
authors: Hosoda
authors: Division of Health Administration and Promotion, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan. kurozawa@med.tottori-u.ac.jp.
authors: Youichi
authors: Y
authors: Kurozawa
authors: Division of Surgical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan. masaike@med.tottori-u.ac.jp.
authors: Masahide
authors: M
authors: Ikeguchi
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity*; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007564:Japan; D008163:Luminescent Measurements
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D007073:Immunoglobulin E