Studies have shown that indoor air pollution causes atopic dermatitis in dogs and worsens symptoms. It is noteworthy that it showed the effect of the indoor environment on companion animals that share living spaces with people.
The Korea Research Foundation (Chairman Lee Kwang-bok) announced on the 24th that a research team led by Professor Kim Ha-jung of Chonnam National University's College of Veterinary Medicine found that harmful indoor environments have a bad effect on atopic dermatitis in pets as well as humans. Atopic dermatitis is increasing due to the settlement of westernized indoor environments and food culture, and atopic dermatitis in companion animals that share living environments with humans is also increasing significantly. Although the cost of treating atopic dermatitis in companion animals is also increasing, drug treatment has limitations, raising the need for research on the root cause and prevention. The research team conducted an indoor environment survey, clinical symptoms of skin conditions, and bio-biomarker analysis of allergic inflammation in blood for dogs and healthy dogs who visited Chonnam National University Animal Hospital for atopic dermatitis. The concentration of fine dust and volatile organic compounds in the air was measured for 48 hours in a space where dogs often stay. As a result, it was confirmed that the symptoms of atopic dermatitis in dogs tended to worsen as the indoor fine dust concentration increased. The concentration of fine dust in the living space of the group with atopic dermatitis was significantly higher than that of the healthy group, and the higher the concentration, the higher the atopic symptoms. In addition, the concentration of indoor fine dust was correlated with the presence of visible mold on the indoor wall. Professor Kim Ha-jung said, "This study is a result of proving the relationship between fine dust and pet atopic dermatitis, and it is expected that new prevention methods for pet atopic dermatitis can be suggested through continuous research." The research team plans to develop a technology that easily diagnoses or predicts genetic changes that cause sensitive reactions to fine dust in the future. The study was conducted with the support of mid-sized research projects promoted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Research Foundation, and was published in the academic journal Allergy.
Writer: Grace Jun
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