This article has been corrected. See "ERRATUM: Affiliation Correction. Evaluation of the association of vegetation of allergenic plants and pollinosis with meteorological changes" in Volume 3 on page 236.
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Abstract
Purpose
There are a number of reports suggesting that widespread propagation of weeds and high concentration of weed pollen have been contributed to climate change. We investigated the interrelationship between allergenic pollen concentration, allergic symptom and meteorological factor.
Methods
We collected data of pollen concentration and meteorological factors in 7 stations nationwide during between 1998 and 2012. We recruited total 297 allergic patients sensitized to weed pollens from each station, conducted a survey about allergic symptom, and calculated symptom index. We surveyed the vegetation area of ragweed and Japanese hop. Based on these data, we performed the long-term trend analysis (X11-ARIMA, autoregressive integrated moving average) on regional pollen concentration, and correlation analysis to investigate the interrelation between weed pollen concentration, allery symptom index and meteorological factor. We have also done regression analysis on vegetation area and maximal pollen concentration.
Results
Long-term trend analysis showed the increasing trend of pllen concentration in Seoul. Weed pollen concentration, allergy symptom index and each meteorological factor were not correlated significantly. Regression analysis revealed that increase of weed vegetation area results in increase of weed pollen concentration. Through this regression equation, we estimated the vegetation area that can product pollen concentration triggering allergenic risk.
Conclusion
Meteorological factors, pollen concentration and allergic symptoms should be consistently assessed and the relationship between each factor should be analyzed, considering climate change. It is necessary to verify the equation for pollen estimation by vegetation area and set up a policy for vegetation control focused on the reduction of allergenic pollen.
Figures and Tables
 | Fig. 2Long-term trends of pollen concentration from each allergenic plants at Seoul by using statistical analysis (X11-ARIMA, autoregressive integrated moving average).
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 | Fig. 3Comparison between mean temperature, weed pollen concentration and allergic rhinitis symptom index at six areas in Korea. meanT, mean temperature; symptom index.
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 | Fig. 4Comparison between accumulated temperature (degree days), weed pollen concentration and allergic rhinitis symptom index at six areas in Korea. accumT, accumulated temperature; SI, symptom index.
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 | Fig. 5Comparison between 7-day sunshine hours, weed pollen concentration and allergic rhinitis symptom index at six areas in Korea. AS, accumulated sunshine; SI, symptom index.
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 | Fig. 6The linear regression between the vegetation area of ragweed and the maximum daily concentration of their pollens for guideline of allergenic weeds.
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 | Fig. 7The linear regression between the vegetation area of Japanese hop and the maximum daily concentration of their pollens for guideline of allergenic weeds.
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Table 1
Yearly comparison of peak pollen concentration of allergenic trees except pine from six areas in Korea associated with meteorological factors
Table 2
Yearly comparison of peak pollen concentration of pine tree from six areas in Korea associated with meteorological factors
Table 3
Yearly comparison of peak pollen concentration of allergenic weeds from six areas in Korea associated with meteorological factors
Table 5
The meteorological factor and max concentration of ragweed on max flowering date in Guri, Gwangju, and Daejeon
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