The major tasks in this project included：(1) evaluation of the impact of aeolian river-dust on the air quality during 2000-2010, (2) assessment of the exposure of elementary school children to river-dust, (3) determination of the urinary levels of metal and 8-oxodG in children, (4) conducting the cardiopulmonary function test in children, (5) estimation of clinic visits for selected diseases among children and adult residents, and (6) health education intervention. The data from air-monitoring stations showed that the air quality was seriously influenced by the river-dust during 2008 and 2009. However, because of the government’s actions and programs, the impact of river-dust on air quality has been significantly improved in recent two years (2010 and 2011). The results showed that the PM10 concentrations during the predilection periods of river-dust (PRD) were higher than those during the non-predilection periods of river-dust (NPRD). However, there were no significant differences in PM10 concentrations between exposed areas (Lunbei Township and Erlun Township) and non-exposed areas (Gukeng Township and Yuanchang Township). Although the dust loading in the household and in classroom varied significantly, the increased amounts of dust loading from NPRD to PRD at exposed areas were higher than those at non-exposed areas. Because there was no significant river-dust episodes occurred during the sampling time, the urinary metal concentrations of school children showed no significant differences between exposed areas and non-exposed areas. Arsenic (As) was chosen as an indicator in this study to evaluate the exposure of river-dust during the PRD due to it is naturally present in soil or as salts, no As stationary emission source exists surrounding the area, and its rapid excretion through urine. Urinary metal analysis showed that the increased amounts of urinary As for school children during PRD were significantly higher at exposed areas than those at non-exposed areas. Urinary 8-oxodG analysis revealed that there was a seasonal variation in the 8-oxodG concentration among the school children. It was also found that the exposed school children had significantly higher urinary 8-oxodG concentrations at day 3 than at day 1 during the PRD. After linking the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) and daily average data of PM10 concentration, this study found that there is a significant dose-response effect between PM10 levels and clinic visits for some diseases among both children and adults’ samples, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Allergic Rhinitis, Acute Respiratory Infections, and Other Diseases of Upper Respiratory Tract. Meanwhile, the results of cardiopulmonary function test further showed that "living in the roadside", "unpleasant odor" and "outdoor air pollution" may have long-term effect on children's lung function. After the health education intervention, it was found that students in the experimental group had significantly higher score on knowledge than those in the control group. In addition, the frequency of protective behaviors adopted by experimental group students was found to be increased during the PRD, suggesting that the health education intervention can actually help the students to improve self-protection against river-dust.

aeolian river-dust, residential exposure, Yunlin County, creatinine