Trends of the Cryptomeria japonica and Cupressaceae pollen counts and the number of patients with Japanease Cedar pollinosis in Fukuoka

Abstract

We investigated the Cryptomeria japonica and Cupressaceae pollen count statistics for the 23-year period from 1988 to 2010 monitored at 17 locations in Fukuoka Prefecture. C. japonica and Cupressaceae pollen steadily increased, with a remarkable annual fluctuation. The average pollen count for the ten-year period from 2001 to 2010 was found to increase by 1.4-fold for C. japonica pollen and by 2.1-fold for Cupressaceae pollen in comparison to the ten-year period from 1988 to 1997. The increase in the Cupressaceae pollen was especially noteworthy. We compared the number of Japanease Cedar pollinosis patients consulting the otolaryngology and ophthalmology departments with the C. japonica and Cupressaceae pollen counts. The number of Japanease Cedar pollinosis patients was significantly associated with the pollen count, and therefore the pollen count is considered to be extremely useful medical information for pollinosis patients.