J Korean Med Assoc.  2004 May;47(5):465-470. 10.5124/jkma.2004.47.5.465.

The Health Effects of Asian Dust Event

• Kwon HJ
• Cho SH

• KMID: 2137882
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2004.47.5.465

Abstract

The Korean peninsula has a long history of spring time dust clouds blown by winds from the arid deserts of Mongolia and China, these are called Yellow sand or Asian dust event. Public concern about the possible adverse effects of these dust events has increased, because the dust arrives in Korea after having passed over heavily industrialized eastern China. Most studies on the Asian dust have been focused on the physiochemical properties of the dust. Just several studies have been published on the matter of the health effects of the Asian dust both domestically and internationally. Even though the dust of crustal origin like the Asian dust is not considered as harmful as the dust from the exhaust gas, many people have experienced the eye symptoms and the respiratory symptoms such as cough, sputum, and chest tightness during the yellow sand period. However it is not clear that the increased risk of experiencing respiratory symptoms during the dust period leads to increased risk of hospitalization or mortality. Limited epidemiologic studies suggest that the aged people and the patients with cardiopulmonary disease are more susceptible to possible harmful effects of the Asian dust.

Keyword

Asian dust; Fine particulate; Hospitalization; Mortality; Susceptible population

MeSH Terms

Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
China
Cough
Dust*
Hospitalization
Humans
Korea
Mongolia
Mortality
Silicon Dioxide
Sputum
Thorax
Wind
Dust
Silicon Dioxide

Figure

• 

  Figure 1

Reference

2. Taylor DA. Dust in the wind. Environ Health Perspect. 2002. 110(2):A80–A87.

6. Kwon HJ, Cho SH, Chun Y, Lagarde F, Pershagen G. Effects of the Asian dust events on daily mortality in Seoul, Korea. Environ Res. 2002. 90:1–5.

7. Chen YS, Sheen PC, Chen ER, Liu YK, Wu TN, et al. Effects of Asian dust storm events on daily mortality in Taipei, Taiwan. Environ Res. in press.