Objectives: The main purpose of this study is to produce background data which can be compared with severallarge-scale industrial complex regions.
Methods: The framework of this study was designed to evaluate and monitor health effects associated with lowleveland long-term exposure to environmental pollutants. In this study, 1,009 local residents were recruited inthe city of Chungju using personal questionnaires, medical check-ups, and allergen skin-prick tests for 12common allergens. The prevalence rate of skin allergens was reviewed together with that from large-scaleindustrial areas.
Results: The diagnosis prevalence and medical treatment prevalence of asthma was 5.6% and 1.7%,respectively. Allergic rhinitis was 25.4% and 16.7%, allergic dermatitis was 16.6% and 9.9% and allergicconjunctivitis was 18.7% and 7.9%, respectively. These results were similar with those of industrial complexes. The prevalence of allergen skin-prick test was 16.4% and the most common allergen was dust mites (27.9-31.6%). This result was lower than those of the industrial complexes (22.5-39.9%) and Gangneung (18.2-24.7%).
Conclusion: Further study is required to find the cause of the regional differences in skin prick prevalence.