title: Low Concentration PM10Had No Effect on Nasal Symptoms and Flow in Allergic Rhinitis Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since Korea is geographically close to China (the origin site for Asian sand dust [ASD]) the health influence of ASD event will be still greater in Korea. We aimed to evaluate the effect of PM10(particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <10 μm, below 150 μg/m3) on the clinical course of allergic rhinitis (AR).
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 47 healthy volunteers (group A) and 108 AR patients sensitized to house dust mites (group B). For 120 consecutive days (from February 1st to May 30th, 2012), all subjects reported their daily nasal symptoms and performed 2 peak flowmeter readings to measure peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF). We evaluated the correlation between the daily concentration of PM10, symptoms, and PNIF of patients. We also investigated changes in symptoms and PNIF 2 days before and after 'dusty' days (daily concentration of PM10>100 μg/m3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between group A and B in nasal symptoms and PNIF during the 120-day period. Changes in nasal symptoms and PNIF were not statistically significant before or after a PM10concentration rise above 100 μg/m3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low concentration PM10does not have significant effect on nasal symptoms and PNIF in AR patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Hyo
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Pil
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Il Gyu
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Kyu
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Young
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seon Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Allergic Rhinitis; Mites; Particulate Matter