Spatiotemporal Analysis of the Effects of Ambient Bioparticles on Allergic Diseases in the Greater Taipei Area

Many large epidemiological studies use data from existing stationary monitoring stations as personal exposure surrogate to examine the health effects of air pollution. Due to significant variation of pollutant levels within cities, researchers start to utilize land-use regression (LUR) and Geographic Information System (GIS) to better assess personal exposure levels. Ambient bioparticles are important air pollutants which may exacerbate allergic respiratory diseases and decrease lung function. Stationary monitoring data is also used as personal exposure indicators in evaluating health effect of bioparticles. Very few studies have investigated the spatiotemporal variation of bioparticles. Therefore, we will conduct a study to evaluate the spatiotemporal effects of ambient bioparticles on allergic diseases in the Greater Taipei area. We will utilize the bioparticle monitoring data collected during four seasons of 2011-2012 to develop land-use regression models and to estimate spatiotemporal levels of bioparticles at each administrative district in the Greater Taipei area. The data of other environmental factors (air pollutants and meteorological factors) will be obtained from the Environmental Protection Administration and the Central Weather Bureau. Data of outpatient visits for allergic diseases in each administrative district will be extracted from National Health Insurance Research Database. The spatiotemporal analysis will be performed using multiple regressions to evaluate the relationships between ambient bioparticles and allergic diseases. The modification or confounding effects of other air pollutants and meteorological factors will also be evaluated. The results of this study will provide the spatiotemporal relationships between ambient bioparticles and allergic diseases, as well as the information for the public to avoid bioparticle exposure and to prevent allergic diseases.