Desert dust exposure is associated with increased risk of asthma hospitalization in children

Relationship between mortality and fine particles during Asian dust, smog-Asian dust, and smog days in Korea

This study examined the association between all-cause/cardiovascular mortality and PM(2.5) as related to Asian dust (AD), smog-AD, smog, and nonevent days and evaluated the differential risks according to specific events for mortality. The daily records of all-cause/cardiovascular mortality and PM(2.5) from March to May 2003-2006 in Seoul, Korea, were used as independent and dependent variables. Differences in the event effects were assessed using a time-series analysis. Both all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities were significantly associated with PM(2.5) during smog-AD and AD days only. Differences in chemical composition emerging during long-range transport to Korea may explain these observations, especially as regards secondary aerosol, metal-sulfate/or nitrate, and metallic components. These results suggest that exposure to PM(2.5) during specific events is differentially associated with human mortality and that changes in the chemical composition of PM(2.5), occurring during long-range transport, represent important factors in such differential effects on health.

Photooxidation of atmospheric alcohols on laboratory proxies for mineral dust

We have used a novel photochemical Knudsen cell reactor to investigate the uptake and phototransformation of some atmospherically important trace organics on TiO(2) and TiO(2)-SiO(2) mixed films. Illumination of TiO(2) films led to an enhanced uptake of isopropanol and n-propanol and the concurrent production of gas-phase acetone and propionaldehyde, respectively, with high efficiency. Acetone production from isopropanol on illuminated TiO(2) films displayed a significant enhancement in the presence of cosorbed AgNO(3) or KNO(3). Uptake of cyclohexene by TiO(2) films required the presence of both nitrate anion and light. The wavelength and substrate (TiO(2) vs SiO(2)) dependence of the nitrate-induced enhancement in uptake indicates that it was not caused by direct photolysis of nitrate anion. We propose a 2-fold role for nitrate anion in the present experiments: first, as an electron trapping agent that activates the TiO(2) surface toward photooxidation; second, as suggested by our results for cyclohexene, as a source of reactive nitrate radical at the TiO(2) surface. These observations suggest that mineral dust containing photoactive components may catalyze the transformation of photochemically inactive organic compounds into species that absorb in the actinic region.

Pollen augments the influence of desert dust on symptoms of adult asthma patients

BACKGROUND

East Asian desert dust storms that occur during mainly spring are called Asian dust storms (ADS). Our objective was to study the association of pollen and ADS with symptoms of adult asthma patients in Japan.

METHODS

We designed a telephone survey to investigate the upper and lower respiratory, ocular, and skin symptoms of asthma patients during ADS in February, March, and December on 2009. Peak expiratory flow (PEF) was also measured from February to May.

RESULTS

We surveyed 106 patients in February, 101 patients in March, and 103 patients in December. In February and March, Japanese cedar and/or cypress pollen was also in the atmosphere during ADS, but no pollen was identified during December survey. Worsening of upper or lower respiratory, ocular, or skin symptoms was noted by 20.8% of patients in February, 33.7% in March, and 16.5% in December. Worsening of symptoms was significantly more common in March than in February or December. Two patients needed emergency treatment for exacerbation during ADS in March, but no patient needed hospitalization in any period. There was no significant difference of the daily morning PEF/personal best PEF ratio between ADS days and control days. However, in patients with worsening of upper and/or lower respiratory tract symptoms, the daily morning PEF/personal best ratio was significantly associated with the atmospheric level of particulate matter, but not with levels of pollen or other air pollutants.

CONCLUSIONS

Pollen augmented symptoms in adult asthma patients, but ADS on its own also were able to aggravate symptoms and pulmonary function.

Hospital admissions for asthma and acute bronchitis in El Paso, Texas: do age, sex, and insurance status modify the effects of dust and low wind events?

BACKGROUND

El Paso County (Texas) is prone to still air inversions and is one of the dust "hot spots" in North America. In this context, we examined the sub-lethal effects of airborne dust and low wind events on human respiratory health (i.e., asthma and acute bronchitis) between 2000 and 2003, when 110 dust and 157 low wind events occurred. Because environmental conditions may not affect everyone the same, we explored the effects of dust and low wind within three age groups (children, adults, and the elderly), testing for effect modifications by sex and insurance status, while controlling for weather and air pollutants.

METHODS

We used a case-crossover design using events matched with referent days on the same day-of-the-week, month, and year with conditional logistic regression to estimate the probability of hospital admission, while controlling for apparent temperature (lag 1), nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter of 2.5μm or less.

RESULTS

Children (aged 1-17) were 1.19 (95% confidence interval: 1.00-1.41) times more likely to be hospitalized for asthma three days after a low wind event, and 1.33 (95% CI: 1.01-1.75) times more likely to be hospitalized for acute bronchitis one day after a dust event than on a clear day. Girls were more sensitive to acute bronchitis hospitalizations after dust events (1.83, 95% CI: 1.09-3.08) than boys, but less sensitive than boys to acute bronchitis hospitalizations after low wind events (0.68, 95% CI: 0.46-1.00). We found general trends with regard to dust and low wind events being associated with increased odds of hospitalization for asthma and bronchitis amongst all ages and adults (aged 18-64). Adults covered by Medicaid and adults without health insurance had higher risks of hospitalization for asthma and acute bronchitis after both low wind and dust events.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that there were respiratory health effects associated with dust and low wind events in El Paso, with stronger impacts among children and poor adults. Girls and boys with acute bronchitis were differentially sensitive to dust and low wind events.

Correlation between Asian dust storms and worsening asthma in Western Japan

BACKGROUND

Severe wind storms during spring in East Asia, called Asian dust storms (ADS), have been assessed in the past for their effect on health in Asian countries. Our objective was to study the ADS association with asthma symptoms in adult patients in Japan.

METHODS

We designed a telephone survey to assess ADS influence on upper and lower respiratory, ocular and cutaneous symptoms in 98 patients with adult asthma from April to May 2007. Peak expiratory flow (PEF) was also measured from February to May.

RESULTS

Worsening lower respiratory symptoms were noted by 22 of 98 patients during ADS in April, when Japanese cedar pollen levels also increased. During ADS in May, however, Japanese cedar and cypress pollen levels were not elevated, 11 patients had worsening of lower respiratory symptoms. None required emergency treatment for the exacerbation. Lower respiratory symptoms worsening most were cough and sputum; this was more common in patients with allergic rhinitis or atopy than in those without (P < 0.05). Min%Max differed significantly at 88.7 ± 6.6% during dust dispersion period, defined as the ADS day plus the next 6 days, versus 92.0 ± 5.3% during the 7-day period before a dust storm.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that ADS aggravated lower respiratory symptoms in adult patients with asthma, but this influence was mild.