OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of volcanic ash on the ocular symptoms of schoolchildren ages 6 to 15 residing near Mt. Sakurajima, an active volcano. DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 10,380 children ages 6 to 15, 1175 in a high-exposure area and 9205 in a low-exposure area, were studied. METHODS: High- and low-exposure areas for volcanic ash were selected. All subjects in both areas were examined annually each September in the decade from 1994 to 2003. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The frequency of positive ocular symptoms in years with and without active volcanic eruptions was compared. The association of ocular symptoms with volcanic ash dispersal was assessed with the Mantel-Haenszel test or chi-square test. RESULTS: Subjects in the high-exposure area showed ocular symptoms more often than those in the low-exposure area (P<0.0001). Years of active volcanic eruptions (volcanic ash of 5000 g/m2/year or more) were closely related to years with a high frequency of ocular symptoms in subjects in the high-exposure area (P<0.05) but related conversely in subjects in the low-exposure area (P<0.01). Major ocular symptoms were redness, discharge, foreign body sensation, and itching, all treated effectively with eyedrops. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular symptoms in subjects were strongly influenced by volcanic eruptions in the Mt. Sakurajima area, but direct influence was limited to those living in areas very near the volcano (i.e., 4 km from the volcano's crater).
OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of volcanic ash on the ocular symptoms of schoolchildren ages 6 to 15 residing near Mt. Sakurajima, an active volcano. DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 10,380 children ages 6 to 15, 1175 in a high-exposure area and 9205 in a low-exposure area, were studied. METHODS: High- and low-exposure areas for volcanic ash were selected. All subjects in both areas were examined annually each September in the decade from 1994 to 2003. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The frequency of positive ocular symptoms in years with and without active volcanic eruptions was compared. The association of ocular symptoms with volcanic ash dispersal was assessed with the Mantel-Haenszel test or chi-square test. RESULTS: Subjects in the high-exposure area showed ocular symptoms more often than those in the low-exposure area (P<0.0001). Years of active volcanic eruptions (volcanic ash of 5000 g/m2/year or more) were closely related to years with a high frequency of ocular symptoms in subjects in the high-exposure area (P<0.05) but related conversely in subjects in the low-exposure area (P<0.01). Major ocular symptoms were redness, discharge, foreign body sensation, and itching, all treated effectively with eyedrops. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular symptoms in subjects were strongly influenced by volcanic eruptions in the Mt. Sakurajima area, but direct influence was limited to those living in areas very near the volcano (i.e., 4 km from the volcano's crater).
Authors: Jun-Sang Bae; Soo Bin Oh; Jeongyun Kim; Hoon Kim; Ji Hye Kim; Eun-Hee Kim; Kyong Jin Cho; Ji-Hun Mo Journal: Allergy Asthma Immunol Res Date: 2022-01 Impact factor: 5.764