Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10553/36069
Title: Saharan dust and the impact on adult and elderly allergic patients: the effect of threshold values in the northern sector of Gran Canaria, Spain
Authors: Menéndez, Inmaculada 
Derbyshire, Edward
Carrillo, Teresa 
Caballero, Elena
Engelbrecht, Johann P.
Romero Martín, Lidia Esther 
Mayer, Pablo L. 
Rodríguez de Castro, Felipe 
Mangas, José 
UNESCO Clasification: 3201 Ciencias clínicas
320701 Alergias
Keywords: Natural mineral particles (NMP)
Saharan dust geochemistry
Epidemiology
Allergic patients
Canary Islands
Issue Date: 2017
Project: Caracterización Textual y Mineralógica Del Material Particulado Natural Atmosférico (Nmps) y Su Incidencia en la Población Canaria. 
Journal: International Journal of Environmental Health Research 
Abstract: Gran Canaria Island is frequently impacted by Saharan dust, a health hazard of particular concern to the island population and health agencies. Airborne mineral dust has the severest impact on the higher age groups of the population, and those with respiratory conditions; despite that, on average, the ambient particulate matter (PM) concentrations fall within international PM guidelines. During 2010 and 2011, an epidemiological survey, in parallel with an air quality study, was conducted at the Dr Negrin hospital in Gran Canaria. This included the quarterly monitoring of outpatients and recording of emergency patients with respiratory diseases, together with the measurement of aerosol, meteorological, and PM-related air quality levels. The finer more toxic particles were collected with PM2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5m) aerosol samplers. The filter samples were gravimetrically and chemically analyzed for their elemental, water-soluble ions, carbon, and mineralogical contents. Individual particle morphology was measured by Scanning Electron Microscopy. Statistical analysis of the chemical and clinical data included the analysis of variance and calculation of Spearman correlation coefficients. No statistically significant relations were found between the allergic control group, the emergency room admissions, pulmonary conditions, medication, and elevated Saharan dust levels. However, changing environmental conditions, such as an increase in humidity or a reduction in ambient air temperature made a significant difference to the outcomes recorded on the health statements of the allergic and respiratory illness groups of the Gran Canary population.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10553/36069
ISSN: 0960-3123
DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2017.1292496
Source: International Journal of Environmental Health Research[ISSN 0960-3123],v. 27, p. 144-160
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