Effect of the Asian Dust Events on Respiratory Disease During the Spring

Kim, Jin Yong; Baek, Kwang Je; Lee, Kyung Ryong; Lee, Young Joo; Hong, Dae Young

Abstract

PURPOSE: In spring, dust storms originating in the deserts of Mongolia and China afflict Korea. These occurrences are known as Asian dust storm (ADS) events. The objective of this study was to assess the possible associations of Asian dust storm events with daily clinical visits for respiratory symptoms in Seoul, during the period 2001~2007.
METHODS
Annually between March 1 and April 30 for the seven years 2001~2007, daily clinical visits for respiratory symptoms on the index days were compared with clinical visits on the comparison (non-ADS) days. Two non-ADS days were compared with each ADS index day, which were the days one week before and one week following the index day.
RESULTS
The daily Particulate Matter (PM10) average during the Asian dust days was 409.7 microgram/m3, Which was significantly higher than during the control days(p<0.001). Other meteorological elements, however were very similar. We identified 62 dust storm episodes. The strongest estimated effect of dust storms was increased risk for respiratory disease two days after an event. The mean number of daily chronic obstructive pulmonary disease admissions was higher for the second day following ADS than for the comparison days.
CONCLUSION
The Asian dust events were found to be weakly associated with the total number of patients exhibiting respiratory symptoms. However, there was a stronger association between dust events and hospital admissions due to respiratory causes, with a particularly strong association two days after an event. This suggests that persons with advanced respiratory diseases may be susceptible to Asian dust events.