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

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Desert dust particles, including quartz, which causes inflammatory responses in the airway in animal studies, are transported to widespread regions around the globe. Epidemiologically, areas impacted by desert dust storms, such as communities in the Middle East and the Caribbean, seem to have higher incidences of asthma than might be expected.

Objectives

We investigated the magnitude of association between airborne mineral dust concentration and hospitalization of children for asthma exacerbation by using Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) with a polarization analyzer for an exposure measurement, which can distinguish mineral dust particles from other particles.

Methods

A case-crossover design was used. The exposure measurement was LIDAR's nonspherical exti

SUBMITTER: Kanatani KT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3159090 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature