title: The effect of PM10 on allergy symptoms in allergic rhinitis patients during spring season.
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). 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Gil Medical Center, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 405-760, Korea. eyik@naver.com.
authors.forename: Il Gyu
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Gil Medical Center, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 405-760, Korea. erica3743@naver.com.
authors.forename: Youn Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Gil Medical Center, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 405-760, Korea. d0ramong@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Joo Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 406-799, Korea. kpko@gachon.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Kwang Pil
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 406-799, Korea. jsodk@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Dae Kyu
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Center for Allergic Rhinitis, Inha University Hospital, Ministry of Environment, Incheon 400-711, Korea. kimjhmd@inha.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jeong Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Center for Allergic Rhinitis, Inha University Hospital, Ministry of Environment, Incheon 400-711, Korea. dhyunlim@inha.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Dae Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inha University College of Medicine Incheon 400-711, Korea. inhaorl@naver.com.
authors.forename: Young Hyo
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inha University College of Medicine Incheon 400-711, Korea. jangty@inha.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Tae Young
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Gil Medical Center, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 405-760, Korea. rhinokim2002@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Seon Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects*; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D052638:Particulate Matter