Associations between subjective symptoms and serum immunoglobulin E levels during Asian dust events.

Shinji Otani,Takenobu Hosoda,Masahide Ikeguchi,Kazunari Onishi,Haosheng Mu,Youichi Kurozawa

doi:10.3390/ijerph110807636

Shinji Otani, Takenobu Hosoda + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph110807636

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Abstract

Asian dust is a seasonal meteorological phenomenon caused by the displacement of atmospheric pollutants from the Mongolian and Chinese deserts. Although the frequency of Asian dust events and atmospheric dust levels have steadily increased in the eastern Asia region, the effects on human health remain poorly understood. In the present study, the impact of Asian dust on human health was determined in terms of allergic reactions. A total of 25 healthy volunteers were tested for a relationship between serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and subjective symptoms during a 3-day Asian dust event recorded in April 2012. They filled daily questionnaires on the severity of nasal, pharyngeal, ocular, respiratory, and skin symptoms by a self-administered visual analog scale. Serum levels of non-specific IgE and 33 allergen-specific IgE molecules were analyzed. Spearman rank-correlation analysis revealed significant positive associations between nasal symptom scores and 2 microbial-specific IgE levels (Penicillium and Cladosporium). Microbes migrate vast distances during Asian dust events by attaching themselves to dust particles. Therefore, some of these symptoms may be associated with type 1 allergic reactions to certain type of microbes.

Highlights

Asian dust events are massive meteorological phenomena during which fine particles fromTaklamakan Desert, Gobi Desert, and Loess Plateau in inland China are blown into the atmosphere and carried by westerly winds into northeast Asia
We previously reported an association between skin symptoms and Asian dust events [3,4]
Asian dust on human health in terms of allergic reaction, we investigated the relationship between serum Immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and subjective symptoms during a 3-day Asian dust event

Summary

Introduction

Asian dust events are massive meteorological phenomena during which fine particles from. There is a steady increase in the frequency of these events and atmospheric dust levels in East Asia because of industrial pollutants and active desertification in China [1,2]. The impact of Asian dust on human health remains poorly understood. We previously reported an association between skin symptoms and Asian dust events [3,4]. Subjects with a tendency of metal allergy are more susceptible to develop skin symptoms during Asian dust events [5]. Organic agents adhering to Asian dust particles are involved in the allergic reactions [6,7]. Asian dust on human health in terms of allergic reaction, we investigated the relationship between serum IgE levels and subjective symptoms during a 3-day Asian dust event

Subjects

Health Survey on the Effects of Asian Dust Events

IgE Measurements

Results

Discussion

Conclusions