大台北地區重要真菌類別對過敏性呼吸道疾病之影響

Effects of Specific Fungal Categories on Allergic Respiratory Diseases in the Greater Taipei Area

鄔雪安(Cheryl-Ann R. Udui)

指導教授 ： 趙馨

臺北醫學大學/公共衛生學院/公共衛生學系暨研究所/碩士(2015年)

摘要

Bioaerosols comprise a significant component of ambient air and consist of living microorganisms, fungal spores, pollens as well as fragments and products of various microorganisms, such as toxins and particulate waste. The study of these airborne particles is crucial as research has found that they may induce respiratory tract inflammation and allergic reactions, or exacerbate allergic diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis. Therefore, we conducted a study to evaluate the characteristics and health effects of ambient fungal categories in Northern Taiwan. We examined longitudinal data of ambient fungal spore concentrations at Xinyi and Xinzhuang Districts in the Greater Taipei Area. While past studies have examined individual effects of specific fungal taxa on respiratory health outcomes, we took a novel approach by using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to identify important ambient fungal categories and examined their health impacts using multivariate regressions. According to the results, the mean concentrations of fungal spores at Xinyi and Xinzhuang Districts were 1631 spores/m3 and 1708 spores/m3, respectively. The most prevalent fungal taxa present in more than 80% of the samples were Ascospores, Basidiospores, Cladosporium, and Aspergillus/Penicillium. PCA analysis identified two fungal categories for Xinyi District and five fungal categories for Xinzhuang District. According to statistical analyses, the fungal categories had significant relationships with various meteorological factors (e.g., temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and rainfall) and air pollutants (e.g., PM10, O3, and NOx). In multiple regressions, we found that hospital visits for allergic diseases were related to two fungal categories and some environmental parameters (e.g. temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, and PM10).This study provides information about specific fungal categories in the Greater Taipei Area and their health impacts. Future studies should further examine the synergistic effects of groups of fungal allergens on allergic respiratory diseases and the mechanisms of association between environmental parameters and fungal concentrations.

關鍵字

principal component analysis ； air pollutants ； fungal spores ； health effects ； outdoor allergens

並列摘要

Bioaerosols comprise a significant component of ambient air and consist of living microorganisms, fungal spores, pollens as well as fragments and products of various microorganisms, such as toxins and particulate waste. The study of these airborne particles is crucial as research has found that they may induce respiratory tract inflammation and allergic reactions, or exacerbate allergic diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis. Therefore, we conducted a study to evaluate the characteristics and health effects of ambient fungal categories in Northern Taiwan. We examined longitudinal data of ambient fungal spore concentrations at Xinyi and Xinzhuang Districts in the Greater Taipei Area. While past studies have examined individual effects of specific fungal taxa on respiratory health outcomes, we took a novel approach by using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to identify important ambient fungal categories and examined their health impacts using multivariate regressions. According to the results, the mean concentrations of fungal spores at Xinyi and Xinzhuang Districts were 1631 spores/m3 and 1708 spores/m3, respectively. The most prevalent fungal taxa present in more than 80% of the samples were Ascospores, Basidiospores, Cladosporium, and Aspergillus/Penicillium. PCA analysis identified two fungal categories for Xinyi District and five fungal categories for Xinzhuang District. According to statistical analyses, the fungal categories had significant relationships with various meteorological factors (e.g., temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and rainfall) and air pollutants (e.g., PM10, O3, and NOx). In multiple regressions, we found that hospital visits for allergic diseases were related to two fungal categories and some environmental parameters (e.g. temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, and PM10).This study provides information about specific fungal categories in the Greater Taipei Area and their health impacts. Future studies should further examine the synergistic effects of groups of fungal allergens on allergic respiratory diseases and the mechanisms of association between environmental parameters and fungal concentrations.

並列關鍵字

principal component analysis ； air pollutants ； fungal spores ； health effects ； outdoor allergens

參考文獻

Abdel Hameed, A.A., Khoder, M.I. et al. (2012). “Study on some factors affecting survivability of airborne fungi.” Science of the Total Environment 414: 696-700.

Adhikari, A., Reponen, T. et al. (2006). "Correlation of ambient inhalable bioaerosols with particulate matter and ozone: A two-year study.” Environmental Pollution 140(1): 16-28.

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (2014). “Allergy Statistics.” [Available at http://www.aaaai.org/about-the-aaaai/newsroom/allergy-statistics.aspx].

Berger, H. (1989). “Sir Alexander Fleming: 1881-1955.” Clinical Cardiology 12(2): 110-112.

Black, P. N., Udy, A. A. et al. (2000). "Sensitivity to fungal allergens is a risk factor for life-threatening asthma." Allergy 55(5): 501-504.