Exposure to pollen allergens in allergic rhinitis expressed by diurnal variation of airborne tree pollen in urban and rural area

Abstract

Exposure to airborne pollen allergens results in allergic symptoms in subjects who are sensitized. The paper presents diurnal variation in the counts of airborne allergenic pollen of selected trees (Betula L., Alnus Mill., Corylus L., Fagus L. and Ulmus L.) in two localities differing in the degree of urbanization: the city of Szczecin (urban) and the village of Gudowo, West Pomerania in northwest Poland (rural) in the years 2012–2014. The measurements were made by the volumetric method using a Burkardtype sampler operating in a continuous mode. The greatest similarities in the beginning of the main pollen season between the two sites studied were observed for birch and elm trees, while in the length of the main pollen season, for birch and alder trees. Pollen counts of alder and hazel reached higher levels in the rural area, while the levels of ash tree pollen counts were higher in the urban area. The level of birch tree pollen counts was similar in the two sites studied. For the majority of taxons observed in the urban and rural areas the dynamics of hourly changes in tree pollen counts were similar. The pollination peak was noted in the daytime, usually in the afternoon. For ash and elm trees increased pollen counts were observed at nighttime, while the birch tree pollen counts were at a high level for most of the 24 h cycle. The knowledge of seasonal and diurnal variations in tree pollen counts is crucial for prevention in patients with allergic rhinitis, sensitized to tree pollen allergens.

Exploring the effects of seasons, diurnal cycle, and heights on airborne pollen load in a Southeast Asian atmospheric condition

“…Previous studies showed that airborne pollen loads were low when the amount of precipitation was high ( 47 , 54 ). In concordance with the previous studies, our study found that pollen concentration was negatively correlated with relative humidity and rainfall.…”

Elm pollen concentrations in the atmospheric air of selected Polish cities in 2022

“…The release of pollen grains from anthers depends on many factors. Changes in the content of pollen grains in the air are also determined by local habitat conditions and topography [4,9].…”

“…The main symptoms of allergy include runny nose, coughing, wheezing, watery eyes, headache, and sinus pain. Currently, the clinical importance of elm pollen in Poland is regarded as low [4], although elm is classified as an important plant allergen elsewhere in the world [5]. Nevertheless, elm pollen allergens are increasingly becoming a cause of allergic reactions also in Poland.…”

“…Air pollutants can enhance the allergenic properties of pollen, especially in urban areas. In addition, the urban microclimate and the presence of high buildings limit pollen transport and prolong the presence of airborne pollen grains, which may result in intensification of allergic reactions [4,5]. However, elm pollen allergens and the elm pollen season in Poland have been poorly described in the literature to date.…”

Intercomparison of Indoor and Outdoor Pollen Concentrations in Rural and Suburban Research Workplaces

“…Different trends of pollen linked to year [39,40], seasonality [41][42][43], daily [44][45][46], intradiurnal [40,[47][48][49][50][51][52] or hourly variations have been reported [27,53,54], and have to be taken into account for the further distinction between urban or non-urban environments [25,26,52,[55][56][57][58]. In this regard, urban and non-urban components around occupational settings add complexity.…”