J Korean Med Assoc.  2012 Mar;55(3):234-242. 10.5124/jkma.2012.55.3.234.

Toxicity and health effects of Asian dust: a literature review

• Kwon HJ

• KMID: 2192713
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2012.55.3.234

Abstract

Asian dust, called Hwangsa in Korean, is windblown dust originating from the desert areas of China and Mongolia. Public concern on the possible adverse health effects of Asian dust has increased recently. Some experimental studies have reported that Asian dust aggravates the allergic response and induces cytotoxicity by promoting the release of reactive oxygen species. Asian dust may potentiate common cold symptoms associated with rhinovirus infection by enhancing inflammatory cytokines and increasing viral replication. In many epidemiologic studies conducted not only in Korea but also in Taiwan and Japan, Asian dust exposure has been reported to be associated with an increase in mortality and hospital visits and admission due to cardiovascular and respiratory disease as well as increased respiratory symptoms and decreased pulmonary function. The frequency and scale of Asian dust events are expected to increase due to environmental change such as desertification in northern China and climate change. We need an Asian dust preparedness strategy including monitoring of dust-related health outcomes as well as an enhanced Asian dust forecasting system to protect people from the effects of Asian dust events.

Keyword

Asian dust; Epidemiologic studies; Preparedness

MeSH Terms

Asian Continental Ancestry Group
China
Climate Change
Common Cold
Cytokines
Dust
Epidemiologic Studies
Forecasting
Humans
Japan
Korea
Mongolia
Natural Resources
Reactive Oxygen Species
Rhinovirus
Taiwan
Cytokines
Dust
Reactive Oxygen Species

Figure

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  Figure 1 Number of days with Asian dust in Korea (From National Institute of Environmental Research. Annual report of air quality in Korea 2010. Gwacheon: Ministry of Environment; 2011) [3].

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  Figure 2 Pyramid of health effects of Asian dust.

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