| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 環境醫學研究所 === 92 === Air pollutants are known to cause adverse health effects as reported in many large-scale, multi-country studies. Respiratory system, cardiovascular system, immune system, nervous system and dermato-mucal tissues are the main susceptible targets to air pollutants. However, investigations on air pollutant effects on mucosa tissue are mainly focused on the respiratory mucus epithelia, and little was mentioned about the eye mucosa. This study is conducted to determine the relationship between criteria air pollutants and conjunctivitis clinic visit.
We collected the 5 criteria pollutant concentrations (SO2, CO, O3, PM10 and NOx) of 1997 in Taiwan from the included monitoring stations, and the patient visits of non-specific conjunctivitis from the database of National Health Insurance Bureau. The averaged weekly concentrations of air pollutants were compared with standardized weekly patient visits. The baseline data of total insured populations are also introduced for comparison.
The results showed that: (1) Females visited the clinic more often than males for non-specific conjunctivitis; (2) Children under 10 years old visited the clinic more often than other age group for non-specific conjunctivitis; (3) The weekly O3 concentration with no time lag is positively related to the standardized patient visits. (4) The hot weather also was a significant factor that correlated to high patient visits.
The results of our study about O3 and female susceptibility are compatible with previous studies. This result lead us a definite direction for air pollutant control for non-specific conjunctivitis.
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