an online international journal allowing free unlimited access to abstract and full-text of published articles. The journal is devoted to the promotion of health sciences and related disciplines (including medicine, pharmacy, nursing, biotechnology, cell and molecular biology, and related engineering fields). It seeks particularly (but not exclusively) to encourage multidisciplinary research and collaboration among scientists, the industry and the healthcare professionals. It will also provide

more »

... n international forum for the communication and evaluation of data, methods and findings in health sciences and related disciplines. The journal welcomes original research papers, reviews and case reports on current topics of special interest and relevance. All manuscripts will be subject to rapid peer review. Those of high quality (not previously published and not under consideration for publication) will be published without delay. The maximum length of manuscripts should normally be 10,000 words (20 single-spaced typewritten pages) for review, 6,000 words for research articles, 3,000 for technical notes, case reports, commentaries and short communications. Submission of Manuscript: The International Journal of Health Research uses a journal management software to allow authors track the changes to their submission. All manuscripts must be in MS Word and in English and should be submitted online at http://www.ijhr.org. Authors who do not want to submit online or cannot submit online should send their manuscript by e-mail attachment (in single file) to the editorial office below. Submission of a manuscript is an indication that the content has not been published or under consideration for publication elsewhere. Authors may submit the names of expert reviewers or those they do not want to review their papers. Abstract Purpose: In spring, Asian dust storm events occur frequently in the deserts of Mongolia and northwestern China. Epidemiological studies have shown that particulate matter during a dust event can cause the deterioration of subjective symptoms concerning the eye and the respiratory. The objective of this study was to assess the possible effects of dust events on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the general population. Methods: A survey of the HRQoL and subjective symptoms related to eye and respiratory systems was carried out for inhabitants in Mongolia after a dust storm event. HRQoL was assessed based on the SF-36. The study participant were 87 nomads. Results: The scores of SF-36 subscales for group with symptoms were significantly lower than group without symptoms. In the results of the multiple regression analysis, the scores of SF-36 subscales were significantly related to the subjective symptoms. Conclusion: This result suggested that a decreased HRQoL of people with symptoms, corroborated by subjective symptoms, may be the result of damage from a dust storm event. Measurement of HRQoL in the general population may thus be an index of the effect from the dust storm.