چکیده (انگلیسی):

Background: An important aspect of sand dust emissions in association with respiratory disorders is the
quantity of particulate matter. This is usually expressed as particulate matter less than 10 mm (PM10) and
2.5 mm (PM2.5). However, the composition of PM10 and PM2.5 varies. Light detection and ranging is used
to monitor sand dust particles originating in East Asian deserts and distinguish them from air pollution
aerosols. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between the daily levels of sand
dust particles and pulmonary function in schoolchildren in western Japan.
Methods: In this panel study, the peak expiratory flow (PEF) of 399 schoolchildren was measured daily
from April to May 2012. A linear mixed model was used to estimate the association of PEF with the daily
levels of sand dust particles, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and PM2.5.
Results: There was no association between the daily level of sand dust particles and air pollution
aerosols, while both sand dust particles and air pollution aerosols had a significant association with SPM
and PM2.5. An increment of 0.018 km
1 in sand dust particles was significantly associated with a decrease
in PEF (
3.62 L/min; 95% confidence interval,
4.66 to
2.59). An increase of 14.0 mg/m3 in SPM and
10.7 mg/m3 in PM2.5 led to a significant decrease of
2.16 L/min (
2.88 to
1.43) and
2.58 L/min (
3.59
to
1.57), respectively, in PEF.
Conclusions: These results suggest that exposure to sand dust emission may relate to pulmonary
dysfunction in children in East Asia.