The analysis of alder pollen season in selected cities of Poland in 2021

Abstract

The study aims to monitor the alder pollen season in selected Polish cities: Bialystok, Cracow, Lublin, Olsztyn, Opole, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Sosnowiec, Szczecin, Warsaw, Wroclaw and Zielona Gora in 2021. Pollen concentrations were recorded by volumetric method using a Burkard-type sampler operating in a continuous volumetric mode. Alder pollen season, defined as the period with 98% of the annual total catch, started in 3rd decade of February in all monitoring sites. There was a marked variation in duration of the season between the sites. It lasted from 31 in Cracow to 54 days in Bialystok (38 days on average). The highest peak daily alder pollen concentrations were observed in Wroclaw (1879 grains/m3) on February 26th). The longest exposure to high concentrations of alder pollen, lasting 22–24 days, was detected in Zielona Gora, Piotrkow Trybunalski and Olsztyn. The alder pollen season in 2021, compared to the previous year, was longer, with higher average sum of daily concentrations over the season, higher maximum daily concentrations and longer exposure to high pollen concentrations at most monitoring sites.

Influence of meteorological factors on the dynamics of hazel, alder, birch and poplar pollen in the 2021 season in Kielce, Poland

“…As shown by literature data, the concentrations of alder pollen grains in various regions of Poland in 2020 were quite low [33]. In 2021, high concentrations of pollen grains were noted in many Polish cities [34], also in Kielce. The concentration of alder pollen grains in Kielce in 2021 was similar to that of Alnus pollen in Piotrków Trybunalski [34].…”

“…In 2021, high concentrations of pollen grains were noted in many Polish cities [34], also in Kielce. The concentration of alder pollen grains in Kielce in 2021 was similar to that of Alnus pollen in Piotrków Trybunalski [34]. The onset of the alder pollen season in Kielce in 2021 was similar to that recorded in Lublin, Białystok, and Kraków, whereas the end dates were similar to those noted in Lublin and Olsztyn [34].…”

“…The pollen peak was recorded on 25 February, i.e. only a day earlier than in Opole, Piotrków Trybunalski, Warsaw, and Białystok [34]. Literature data indicate that the severity of allergic symptoms depends on the concentration of the allergen in the air and the degree of exposure of the organism to the allergen.…”

Alnus pollen grains in the atmospheric air in Poland in 2022

“…The alder pollen season in 2022 was characterized by substantially lower pollen concentrations than in 2021. As shown by the comparison of the results from 2019-2022, the lowest concentrations of alder pollen were usually recorded in Cracow and Sosnowiec, but not in 2022 [8][9][10]. In 2022, high and very high concentrations of alder pollen persisted over a greater number of days than in 2019-2021 in most cities.…”

“…The comparison of data from 2019-2022 showed that the alder pollen season typically began on different days of February. The season started at the end of January in 2020 and 2022 only in Szczecin [8][9][10]. In all the study years, the alder pollen season began earlier in the west of the country than in the eastern part.…”