title: A Six-Year Study on the Changes in Airborne Pollen Counts and Skin Positivity Rates in Korea: 2008-2013.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The occurrence of pollen allergy is subject to exposure to pollen, which shows regional and temporal variations. We evaluated the changes in pollen counts and skin positivity rates for 6 years, and explored the correlation between their annual rates of change.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the number of pollen grains collected in Seoul, and retrospectively reviewed the results of 4442 skin-prick tests conducted at the Severance Hospital Allergy-Asthma Clinic from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For 6 years, the mean monthly total pollen count showed two peaks, one in May and the other in September. Pollen count for grasses also showed the same trend. The pollen counts for trees, grasses, and weeds changed annually, but the changes were not significant. The annual skin positivity rates in response to pollen from grasses and weeds increased significantly over the 6 years. Among trees, the skin positivity rates in response to pollen from walnut, popular, elm, and alder significantly increased over the 6 years. Further, there was a significant correlation between the annual rate of change in pollen count and the rate of change in skin positivity rate for oak and hop Japanese.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pollen counts and skin positivity rates should be monitored, as they have changed annually. Oak and hop Japanese, which showed a significant correlation with the annual rate of change in pollen count and the rate of change in skin positivity rate over the 6 years may be considered the major allergens in Korea.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Applied Meteorology Research Division, National Institute of Meteorological Science, Jeju, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu Rang
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Applied Meteorology Research Division, National Institute of Meteorological Science, Jeju, Korea.
authors.forename: Mae Ja
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Applied Meteorology Research Division, National Institute of Meteorological Science, Jeju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hosoeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jaewonoh@hanyang.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jae-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. cshong@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Chein-Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: Allergy; Seoul; change; correlation; pollen; skin positivity rate