Effects of atmospheric pollens in Bozüyük district on human health (2010-2014)

This study, which is prepared in the field of health geography, aims to reveal with its causes and differences spatial and temporal distribution of allergic origin diseases of asthma, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis which occurred in the years between 2010 and 2014 period in Bozüyük district. In this context, firstly physical geography characteristics (geomorphology, climate, natural vegetation) of Bozüyük district were determined, and a pollination calendar was created by comparing allergen species which are available within vegetation and previous atmospheric pollen measurements in the district. Afterwards, number of patients who consulted to Bozüyük Public Hospital with symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis was tried to correlate with physical geography characteristics of the district by determining the settlements of patients and their application dates. The results of the study have revealed that there is a strong relation between the number of patients who applied the hospital with symptoms of given diseases and geomorphologic features, climatic conditions, pollination periods of allergen species of settlements which patients came from, with increasing in atmospheric pollen. Moreover, it was concluded that in settlements in the valley, patient complaints which have increased in winter months are related to the increase in sulphur dioxite (SO2) gases into the air from factories and temperature inversion. Between the years of 2010-2014 which constituted the temporal limitation of the study, in Bozüyük the heavy increase in number of patients who applied the hospital with symptoms of given diseases, has necessitated to take some measures for the future. Therefore, establishment of a warning system which can provide the previously informing people about pollination periods of allergen plants, will make important contributions to both reducing the demands on hospitals and minimizing economic losses which are resulted from loss of labor force that is arised from these diseases.