An assessment of the potential for co-exposure to allergenic pollen and air pollution in Copenhagen, Denmark

Ørby, Pia Viuf; Peel, Robert George; Skjøth, Carsten Ambelas; Schlünssen, Vivi; Bønløkke, Jakob Hjort; Ellermann, Thomas; Brændholt, Andreas; Sigsgaard, Torben; Hertel, Ole

doi:10.1016/j.uclim.2014.12.002

Cited by 17 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 59 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The health impacts of all these factors, in high co-exposure areas need to be considered. Co-exposure of pollen and air pollutants (namely NO 2 , SO 2 and particulate matter PM 2.5 and PM 10 and ozone) is currently an active area of research ( Mücke et al, 2014 , Ørby et al, 2015 ); allergens from birch pollen have been found bound to particulate matter, PM 10 which means the pollen allergen can travel into the lower respiratory tract ( Suring et al, 2016 ). Vardoulakis et al (2015) discuss how a range of health risks from indoor pollutants, including pollen, might change under a changing climate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping allergenic pollen vegetation in UK to study environmental exposure and human health

McInnes

Hemming

Burgess

et al. 2017

Science of The Total Environment

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Allergenic pollen is produced by the flowers of a number of trees, grasses and weeds found throughout the UK. Exposure to such pollen grains can exacerbate pollen-related asthma and allergenic conditions such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Maps showing the location of these allergenic taxa have many applications: they can be used to provide advice on risk assessments; combined with health data to inform research on health impacts such as respiratory hospital admissions; combined with weather data to improve pollen forecasting systems; or as inputs to pollen emission models. In this study we present 1 km resolution maps of 12 taxa of trees, grass and weeds found in the UK. We have selected the main species recorded by the UK pollen network. The taxa mapped in this study were: Alnus (alder), Fraxinus (ash), Betula (birch), Corylus (hazel), Quercus (oak), Pinus (pine) and Salix (willow), Poaceae (grass), Artemisia (mugwort), Plantago (plantain), Rumex (dock, sorrels) and Urtica (nettle). We also focus on one high population centre and present maps showing local level detail around the city of London. Our results show the different geographical distributions of the 12 taxa of trees, weeds and grass, which can be used to study plants in the UK associated with allergy and allergic asthma. These maps have been produced in order to study environmental exposure and human health, although there are many possible applications. This novel method not only provides maps of many different plant types, but also at high resolution across regions of the UK, and we uniquely present 12 key plant taxa using a consistent methodology. To consider the impact on human health due to exposure of the pollen grains, it is important to consider the timing of pollen release, and its dispersal, as well as the effect on air quality, which is also discussed here.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping allergenic pollen vegetation in UK to study environmental exposure and human health

McInnes

Hemming

Burgess

et al. 2017

Science of The Total Environment

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Understanding allergen-pollutant interactions is especially relevant for urban areas where there are drives to increase green spaces and where the concentrations of some air pollutants tend to be high ( Sousa-Silva et al, 2020 ). The assessment of co-exposures to pollen and pollutants in urban centres is an active area of research ( Mücke et al, 2014 ; Ørby et al, 2015 ). As climate change is expected to increase pollen and fungal spore counts ( Galán et al, 2016 ; Ziello et al, 2012 ) and influence their spread ( Storkey et al, 2014 ), in addition to raising the concentrations of some air pollutants (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactive effects of allergens and air pollution on respiratory health: A systematic review

Lam

Jarvis

Fuertes

2021

Science of The Total Environment

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Studies have demonstrated an adverse role of outdoor allergens on respiratory symptoms. It is unknown whether this effect is independent or synergistic of outdoor air pollutants. Methods We systematically reviewed all epidemiological studies that examined interaction effects between counts of outdoor airborne allergens (pollen, fungal spores) and air pollutants, on any respiratory health outcome in children and adults. We searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scopus databases. Each study was summarized qualitatively and assessed for quality and risk of bias (International Prospective Register for Systematic Reviews, registration number CRD42020162571). Results Thirty-five studies were identified (15 timeseries, eight case-crossovers, 11 panels and one cohort study), of which 12 reported a significant statistical interaction between an allergen and air pollutant. Eight interactions were related to asthma outcomes, including one on lung function measures and wheeze, three to medical consultations for pollinosis and one to allergic symptoms (nasal, ocular or bronchial). There was no consensus as to which allergen or air pollutant is more likely to interact. No study investigated whether interactions are stronger in atopic individuals. Conclusion Despite strong evidence from small experimental studies in humans, only a third of studies identified significant allergen-pollutant interactions using common epidemiological study designs. Exposure misclassification, failure to examine subgroups at risk, inadequate statistical power or absence of population-level effects are possible explanations.

show abstract

“…Symptoms from AR negatively impact the quality of life [2,3] and patients with AR often suffer from asthma or develop asthma later in life [4], formulated through the hypothesis of one airway one disease [5]. Aeroallergens are just a fraction of bioaerosols [6] and aeroallergens that typically have much lower atmospheric concentrations than traditional air pollutants such as NO x and particulate matter (PM) [7]. The economic burden on society from aeroallergens is substantial and in Europe it was estimated that just one aeroallergen, ragweed pollen, costs Euro 7.4 billion annually [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Air Pollution Affecting Pollen Concentrations through Radiative Feedback in the Atmosphere

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Episodes with high air pollution and large amounts of aeroallergens expose sensitive individuals to a health damaging cocktail of atmospheric particles. Particulate matter (PM) affects the radiative balance and atmospheric dynamics, hence affecting concentrations of pollutants. The aim of the study is to estimate feedback between meteorology and particles on concentrations of aeroallergens using an extended version of the atmospheric model WRF-Chem. The extension, originally designed for PM and dust, concerns common aeroallergens. We study a birch pollen episode coinciding with an air pollution event containing Saharan dust (late March to early April 2014), using the model results, pollen records from Southern UK and vertical profiles of meteorological observations. During the episode, increased concentrations of birch pollen were calculated over the European continent, causing plumes transported towards the UK. The arrival of these plumes matched well with observations. The lowest parts of the atmospheric boundary layer demonstrate a vertical profile that favours long distance transport, while the pollen record shows pollen types that typically flower at another time. The model calculations show that feedback between meteorology and particles changes pollen concentrations by ±30% and in some cases up to 100%. The atmospheric conditions favoured meteorological feedback mechanisms that changed long distance transport of air pollution and aeroallergens.

show abstract

An assessment of the potential for co-exposure to allergenic pollen and air pollution in Copenhagen, Denmark

Cited by 17 publications

References 59 publications

Mapping allergenic pollen vegetation in UK to study environmental exposure and human health

Mapping allergenic pollen vegetation in UK to study environmental exposure and human health

Interactive effects of allergens and air pollution on respiratory health: A systematic review

Air Pollution Affecting Pollen Concentrations through Radiative Feedback in the Atmosphere

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About