• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.167-176
• /
• 2008

Airborne pollen is known as one of the major causal agents to respiratory allergic reactions. Daily number of pollen grains was monitored using Burkard volumetric spore traps at seven locations including Seoul and Jeju during 1997-2007. Pollen grains were observed throughout the year especially from February to November. They showed similar distribution patterns of species among locations except in Jeju, where Japanese cedar vegetation is uniquely found. Peak seasons for pollen grains from trees and weeds were March to May and August to October, respectively. Tree pollens were mainly composed of pine, oak, alder, and birch. Weed pollens were mainly from Japanese hop, Worm wood, and ragweed. Diameter of pollen grains, which has a typical range of $20{\sim}60{\mu}m$, has close relationship with allergenicity. Allergenicity of tree and weed pollens is higher than that of grass pollens in general. In the case of trees and shrubs, pine trees account for about 70% of all tree pollens. However, pine pollens are weak allergens. The remaining 30% of tree pollens, including alder trees, white birches, and oaks, are moderate to strong allergens despite the smaller numbers. Grass and weeds are also highly likely to cause allergies. Especially, the pollens of Wormwood and Japanese hop are highly likely to cause allergies. Daily fluctuations in the number of pollens have to do with a variety of meteorological factors, such as temperature and rainfall.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.101-115
• /
• 2013

11 alpine wetlands at the upper reaches of Bangtae River on a high flat summit around Mt. Jeombong were found. Two core samples(JB-1 and JB-2) among them were collected in order to reconstruct paleovegetation history and climate change using pollen analysis. Pinus and Quercus dominated at the wetland of JB-2 with a deep water depth were developed from 1,700 yr BP to 1,000 yr BP of the pollen zone I. Subsequently Quercus dominated in the pollen zone II from 1,000 to 400 yr BP, and it is supposed that warm weather prevailed with oak climax forest corresponding to the Medieval Warm Period. Moreover, sphagnum grew densely in the alpine wetlands and the wetlands were extended widely on the summit around Mt. Jeombong with the beginning of subzoneIIc at JB-2. The pollen zone III from 400 yr BP to the present with an increase in Pinus and a decrease in Quercus suggests cold climates under the Little Ice Age. Moreover, human disturbances at JB-2 were more significant than those at JB-1, based on the increase in Pinus.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.245-254
• /
• 2005

This paper presents a paleoenvironmental study on Hoya Rincon do Parangueo, a maar lake in Valle de Santiago in Central Mexican Bajio. Maar lake sediments have been widely used for high-resolution reconstruction of paleoenvironment. Many different paleoenvironmental proxy data such as stable isotopes, pollen, sediment chemistry, and dung fungus spore were produced in this study. The pine-oak ratio, stable isotopes, and sediment chemistry help to reveal paleoenviromental changes throughout the whole period covered by sediment materials from this study site. The evidence I found indicates that during ca. 9,500 $\sim$ ca. 8,300 cal yr B.P. there was dry climate; during ca. 8,300 $\sim$ ca. 6,300 cal yr B.P. it was wetter; during ca. 6,300 $\sim$ ca. 4,000 cal yr B.P. drier and cooler; during ca. 4,000 $\sim$ ca. 1,100 cal yr B.P. milder and wetter. The presence of Chupicuaro culture between ca. 2,500 $\sim$ 1,100 cal yr B.P. is implied by the high frequencies of Amaranthaceae and Zea mars. It seems that man left this lake around 1,100 cal yr B.P. due to a dry climate after 1,300 cal yr B.P. Spanish arrival around 400 cal yr B.P. is implied by the fact that fe3 mars reappears and Sporormiella spp. become significant around 120 cm, whereas Poaceae drops sharply.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.55 no.9
• /
• pp.322-329
• /
• 2012

Purpose: Aeroallergens are important causative factors of allergic diseases. Previous studies on aeroallergen sensitization rates investigated patients groups that had visited pediatric allergy clinics. In contrast, we investigated sensitization rates in a general population group of elementary school to teenage students in Incheon, Jeju, and Ulsan. Methods: After obtaining parental consent, skin-prick tests were performed on 5,094 students between March and June 2010. Elementary school students were tested for 18 common aeroallergens, whereas middle and high school students were tested for 25 allergens. The 25 allergens included Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, pollen (birch, alder, oak, Japanese cedar, pine, willow, elm, maple, Bermuda grass, timothy grass, rye grass, orchard grass, meadow grass, vernal grass, mugwort, Japanese hop, fat hen, ragweed, and plantain), and mold (Penicillatum, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Alternaria). Results: The sensitization rates in descending order were 25.79% (D. pteronyssinus ), 18.66% (D. farinae ), 6.20% (mugwort), and 4.07% (willow) in Incheon; 33.35% (D. pteronyssinus ), 24.78% (D. farinae), 15.36% (Japanese cedar), and 7.33% (Alternaria) in Jeju; and 32.79% (D. pteronyssinus), 30.27% (D. farinae), 10.13% (alder), and 8.68% (birch) in Ulsan. The dust mite allergen showed the highest sensitization rate among the 3 regions. The sensitization rate of tree pollen was the highest in Ulsan, whereas that of Alternaria was the highest in Jeju. The ragweed sensitization rates were 0.99% in Incheon, 1.07% in Jeju, and 0.81% in Ulsan. Conclusion: The differences in sensitization rates were because of different regional environmental conditions and distinct surrounding biological species. Hence, subsequent nationwide studies are required.

• Journal of Rhinology
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.91-98
• /
• 2018

Background and Objectives: The present study evaluated the results of skin prick test using 55 allergens at 20 centers in the Republic of Korea in 2006, 2010, and 2014-2015. The aim was to assess changes in the positive rate of allergens according to temporal, regional, and environmental factors. Materials and Method: In total, 20 hospitals were selected based on the population distribution in the Republic of Korea. A skin prick test panel comprising 55 aeroallergens was distributed to 18 hospitals for this prospective study. The 2006 and 2010 skin prick test results were collected and analyzed retrospectively from 20 hospitals, while the 2014/2015 skin prick test results (from June 2014 to May 2015) were collected prospectively from 18 hospitals. Results: A total of 14,897 SPT test results were analyzed: 4,319 in 2006, 7,431 in 2010, and 1,852 in 2014/2015. The overall rate of skin prick test positivity to more than two allergens was significantly higher in males than females. The positive rates of alder pollens and birch, oak and ragweed pollen positivity were increased in older patients. Several positive rates were increased according to the temperature in spring. The positive rates for beech pollen, birch pollen, hazel pollen, oak pollen, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, mugwort, cat, Acarus siro, Lepidoglyphus destructor and Tyrophagus putrescentiae were significantly increased, while those of Cult rye pollen and dandelion were significantly decreased over the three test periods. The overall positive rate for allergens in Jeju province varied significantly from Seoul and other cities. Conclusion: Change in the positive rate of multiple aeroallergens was evaluated in the Republic of Korea over time. Our findings can be used to recommend aeroallergens suitable for inclusion in skin prick test panels in the Republic of Korea and will facilitate further investigation of changes in the patterns of allergic diseases.