A 10-year aerobiological study (1994–2003) in the Mediterranean island of Crete, Greece: Trees, aerobiologic data, and botanical and clinical correlations

Abstract

Pollen grains from the plant cover of a given area participate largely in the composition of aeroflora (pollen and molds) of this area. Association of allergic respiratory disorders with concentration of allergenic particles in the atmosphere is well documented, and aerobiologic studies are of great relevance. A 10-year volumetric aerobiologic study was conducted in the city of Heraklion, located in the center of the north-shore of the island of Crete, Greece. Main allergenic families and genera encountered were, in descending order of frequency Oleaceae, Quercus, Platanaceae, Cupressaceae, Pinaceae, Populus, Moraceae, and Corylaceae. Concentrations noted for most of these aeroallergens were much lower than those reported from other European regions. In parallel, an atopic population of 576 individuals, exhibiting allergic symptoms mainly of the respiratory tract were subjected to a battery of skin-prick tests. A fair degree of agreement between total pollen counts and positive skin-prick test frequencies for the families of Oleaceae, Platanaceae, and Cupressaceae was noted. On the contrary a poor degree of concordance was noted for the rest of the families and genera.

An aerobiological perspective in allergy and asthma

“…A 10-year volumetric aerobiologic study was conducted in the city of Heraklion, located in the center of the north-shore of the island of Crete, Greece, main allergenic families and genera encountered in descending order of frequency were, Oleaceae, Quercus, Platanaceae, Cupressaceae, Pinaceae, Populus , Moraceae, and Corylaceae [63]. …”

Respiratory allergies: Salicaceae sensitization (Review)

“…A 13.8% of all pollens counted at different sampling sites in the region of Zagreb, in a study performed in 2003, was ascribed to Populus pollen with a peak concentration in the interval 4.00-8.00 a.m. (18). The pollen of trees from the Populus genus (P. alba, P. nigra, and P. canadensis) was investigated together with many other pollens in a 10-year aerobiological study (1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003) on the Mediterranean island of Crete, Greece, and it was found that 6.07% of polysensitized patients were sensitive to them (19). Three studies carried out in Turkey at the beginning of the 2000s studied the populus pollen along with other pollens.…”