ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The role of PM10 in the development of allergic diseases remains controversial among epidemiological studies, partly due to the inability to control for spatial variations in large-scale risk factors. This study aims to investigate spatial correspondence between the level of PM10 and allergic diseases at the sub-district level in Seoul, Korea, in order to evaluate whether the impact of PM10 is observable and spatially varies across the subdistricts. METHODS: PM10 measurements at 25 monitoring stations in the city were interpolated to 424 sub-districts where annual inpatient and outpatient count data for 3 types of allergic diseases (atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis) were collected. We estimated multiple ordinary least square regression models to examine the association of the PM10 level with each of the allergic diseases, controlling for various sub-district level covariates. Geographically weighted regression (GWR) models were conducted to evaluate how the impact of PM10 varies across the sub-districts. RESULTS: PM10 was found to be a significant predictor of atopic dermatitis patient count (P<0.01), with greater association when spatially interpolated at the sub-district level. No significant effect of PM10 was observed on allergic rhinitis and asthma when socioeconomic factors were controlled for. GWR models revealed spatial variation of PM10 effects on atopic dermatitis across the sub-districts in Seoul. The relationship of PM10 levels to atopic dermatitis patient counts is found to be significant only in the Gangbuk region (P<0.01), along with other covariates including average land value, poverty rate, level of education and apartment rate (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings imply that PM10 effects on allergic diseases might not be consistent throughout Seoul. GIS-based spatial modeling techniques could play a role in evaluating spatial variation of air pollution impacts on allergic diseases at the sub-district level, which could provide valuable guidelines for environmental and public health policymakers.
Subject(s)
Humans , Air Pollution , Asthma , Dermatitis , Dermatitis, Atopic , Education , Environmental Policy , Epidemiologic Studies , Inpatients , Korea , Outpatients , Particulate Matter , Poverty , Public Health , Rhinitis , Risk Factors , Seoul , Socioeconomic Factors , Spatial AnalysisABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Indoor risk factors for allergic diseases in low-income households in Korea have been characterized only partially. We evaluated the prevalences of atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis in Seoul, Korea, to identify key housing and behavioral risk factors of low-income households. METHODS: Statistical analysis of the prevalence of these diseases and various risk factors was conducted using data from a 2010 Ministry of Environment household survey. Logistic regression models were generated using data from 511 low-income household apartments in districts of Seoul. RESULTS: In general, housing factors such as renovation history (P<0.1) and crowding status (P<0.01) were associated with allergic rhinitis, whereas behavioral factors such as frequency of indoor ventilation (P<0.05) and cleaning (P<0.1) were inversely correlated with atopic dermatitis. Indoor smoking was a major trigger of asthma and atopic dermatitis in low-income households (P<0.05). The presence of mold and water leakage in houses were the most important risk factors for all three diseases (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Various risk factors play a role in triggering allergic diseases among low-income households in Seoul, and health or environmental programs mitigating allergic diseases should be tailored to address appropriate housing or behavioral factors in target populations.
Subject(s)
Asthma , Crowding , Dermatitis, Atopic , Family Characteristics , Fungi , Health Services Needs and Demand , Housing , Korea , Logistic Models , Poverty , Prevalence , Rhinitis , Risk Factors , Seoul , Smoke , Smoking , Ventilation , WaterABSTRACT
The immunomodulatory effects of Thai medicinal plants, including Murdannialoriformis, Cymbopogon citratus, Momornica charantia, Centella asiatica, Alliumsativum, Carthamus tinctorius, Eclipta alba, Cyperus rotundus, lotus pollen (Dee-Buo),and plant embryos in seeds of the lotus (Ke-Sorn-Buo), on the mitogen stimulatedproliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were investigated.The results obtained from this study indicated that only water extracts from C. asiaticahad an immunostimulating effect on mitogen-stimulated proliferation of human PBMCs.In contrast, the ethanol extract from this plant showed immunosuppressive activity.Moreover, the water and ethanol extracts of Ke-Sorn-Buo, Dee-Buo, C. rotundus andE. alba had immunosuppressive effects. These extracts strongly decreased PBMCproliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Ethanol extract of C. tinctorius also showedimmunosuppressive activity at a high concentration. Other medicinal plants did not showany mitogenic responses. This in vitro study revealed various effects of Thai medicinalplant extracts on non-specific cellular immune responses. Further investigation should beconsidered on the effect of extracts on other immune parameters such as macrophageactivity, NK cell activity including cell signaling and cytokine production. Chiang MaiMed Bull 2005;44(1):1-12.