Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Association Between Airborne Pollen Counts and Sensitization Rate in Elementary School Children in Ulsan

울산지역 초등학교 학생에서 대기중 꽃가루 비산 수준과 흡입 알레르겐 감작률과의 관련성

  • Oh, Yeonsuh (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Choi, Seung Won (Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Oh, Inbo (Environmental Health Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Jiho (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Sim, Chang Sun (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Bang, Jin-Hee (Environmental Health Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Yangho (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine)
  • 오연서 (울산대학교 의과대학, 울산대학교병원 직업환경의학과) ;
  • 최승원 (울산대학교 의과대학, 울산대학교병원 내과) ;
  • 오인보 (울산대학교 의과대학, 환경보건센터) ;
  • 이지호 (울산대학교 의과대학, 울산대학교병원 직업환경의학과) ;
  • 심창선 (울산대학교 의과대학, 울산대학교병원 직업환경의학과) ;
  • 방진희 (울산대학교 의과대학, 환경보건센터) ;
  • 김양호 (울산대학교 의과대학, 울산대학교병원 직업환경의학과)
  • Received : 2020.11.20
  • Accepted : 2020.12.17
  • Published : 2020.12.31
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Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate airborne pollen counts, inhalant allergen sensitization rate, and allergic disease prevalence among elementary school children in Ulsan, South Korea during 2012-2018. Methods: Burkard samplers for pollen were installed on rooftops in suburban and urban areas in Ulsan. A 24-hour sampling of airborne allergens was conducted six days/week from January 1, 2013 to November 31, 2018. Skin prick tests were done with a total of 4,246 primary school students residing in urban and suburban areas in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018. This study examined sensitization to 20 major inhalant allergens. Results: The highest monthly counts of airborne pollen were observed in April and September each year. Among the pollen identified over the six years, pine showed the highest pollen counts (44.3%), followed by oak (22.3%), alder (6.3%) and Japanese hops (4.3%). Tree pollen predominated from March to June, and weed pollen predominated from August to October. Higher sensitization rates for inhalant allergens were observed in Dermatophagoides farinae (42.4%), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (43.6%), cat fur (12.1%), birch (9.9%), oak (9.6%), and alder (8.7%). The inhalant allergen sensitization rate was highest in the group with comorbidity (asthma and/or rhinitis and atopic dermatitis), and respiratory allergic disease (asthma and/or rhinitis) was higher than that of atopic dermatitis. Conclusion: Both the counts of tree pollen in the air and the sensitization rate for tree pollen were high in Ulsan. The temporal change in respiratory allergic diseases was similar to that for the sensitization rate of tree pollen, such as oak. In the future, it is considered that additional continuous research on various inhalant allergens and pollen should be conducted.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 환경부 환경보건센터 재원에 의해 이루어졌습니다.

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