Ash pollen allergy and aerobiology

Abstract Background Allergy to ash pollen is common in some parts of Europe. Sensitization is overlooked if Oleaceae pollen allergens are not included in screening tests. Methods Between 1983 and 2007, sensitization to aeroallergens was systematically investigated using serological methods in 15-year-old school children (Immuno-CAP [carrier polymer] test). Samples from 1986 and 2006 were also tested using the immuno-solid-phase allergen chip (ISAC) assay. School children with sensitizations in 1986 were retested in 2010. Airborne pollen concentrations were determined by the Swiss pollen measuring network. Results Sensitization (>0.7 kU/l) to ash pollen (Fraxinus americana t15)—16.3% (102/627)—was more frequent than to birch pollen (Betula verrucosa t3): 15.3% (96/627). ISAC assays performed in children in 1986 and 2006 revealed higher molecular seroprevalence for nOle e 1 (15%; 15/100) compared to rBet v 1 (12%; 12/100). Followed-up subjects (age, 39) showed an increase in sensitizations to ash pollen. IgE levels to pollen from indigenous ash (Fraxinus excelsior t25) were higher than to pollen from American ash (Fraxinus americana t15). Low ash pollen emission levels were recorded at all measuring sites in Switzerland every 2–4 years. The infection of ashes by Chalara fraxinea resulted in increased emission of ash pollen. Conclusion Symptoms in individuals sensitized to ash pollen vary according to the pollen count and may be masked by pollen from other trees that flower at the same time of year. Sensitization to ash/Ole e 1 can be higher than to birch/Bet v 1. The determination of IgE to common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is more sensitive than to American ash (Fraxinus americana). Ash dieback due to Chalara appears to increase pollen emission. Allergies to ash pollen can be significantly underestimated due to a failure to (correctly) identify them; they can also be masked by other pollen families (birch). Harmful organisms such as Chalara can intensify pollen emissions at least temporarily.

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EMPOL 1.0: a new parameterization of pollen emission in numerical weather prediction models

Geoscientific Model Development ◽

10.5194/gmd-6-1961-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 6 (6) ◽

pp. 1961-1975 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

K. Zink ◽

A. Pauling ◽

M. W. Rotach ◽

H. Vogel ◽

P. Kaufmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Numerical Weather Prediction ◽

Prediction Models ◽

Weather Prediction ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Small Scale ◽

Pollen Emission ◽

Numerical Weather ◽

Pollen Concentrations ◽

Scale Modelling ◽

Reactive Trace Gases

Abstract. Simulating pollen concentrations with numerical weather prediction (NWP) systems requires a parameterization for pollen emission. We have developed a parameterization that is adaptable for different plant species. Both biological and physical processes of pollen emission are taken into account by parameterizing emission as a two-step process: (1) the release of the pollen from the flowers, and (2) their entrainment into the atmosphere. Key factors influencing emission are temperature, relative humidity, the turbulent kinetic energy and precipitation. We have simulated the birch pollen season of 2012 using the NWP system COSMO-ART (Consortium for Small-scale Modelling – Aerosols and Reactive Trace Gases), both with a parameterization already present in the model and with our new parameterization EMPOL. The statistical results show that the performance of the model can be enhanced by using EMPOL.

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Timely information on birch and grass pollen levels in Belgium

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-4026 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Willem W. Verstraeten ◽

Nicolas Bruffaerts ◽

Rostislav Kouznetsov ◽

Marijke Hendrickx ◽

Mikhail Sofiev ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Grass Pollen ◽

Seasonal Variability ◽

Spatial Information ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Pollen Emission ◽

Birch Tree ◽

Vegetation Activity ◽

Pollen Concentrations ◽

Pollen Release

Air pollution has tremendous effects on mortality and the quality of life. Air pollution is not restricted to anthropogenic contaminants only, since also natural sources (soils, lakes, marshes, vegetation, volcanoes, etc) may emit substantial amounts of unhealthy pollutants (VOCs, SOX, NOX, aerosols, etc). Releases of biogenic aerosols such as pollen affect the public health badly, putting additional distress on people already suffering from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. In Belgium, ~10% of the people is estimated to suffer from allergies due to pollen released by the birch family trees and ~15% due to pollen emitted by grasses. In some European countries the prevalence is up to 40%.To date, the only available airborne pollen level data in Belgium are retrieved by Sciensano at five stations that monitor off-line daily concentrations of grass and birch pollen among other species. Patients suffering from rhinitis have therefore no access to detailed real-time spatial information and warnings on forthcoming exposures.Chemistry Transport Models (CTM) can both quantify as well as forecast the spatial and temporal distribution of airborne birch and grass pollen concentrations if accurate and updated maps of birch and grass pollen emission sources are available, and if the large inter-seasonal variability in emissions is considered.Here we show the results of the modelled spatio-temporal distributions of grass and birch pollen over Brussels and other locations in Belgium using the CTM SILAM. This CTM is driven by ERA5 meteorological reanalysis data from ECMWF, an updated MACC-III birch tree fraction map, based on local information, and a grass pollen emission map showing the spatial distribution of the potential pollen sources. Pollen release is based on the temperature degree days approach. Inter-seasonal variability in birch pollen release was taken into account by using spaceborne MODIS vegetation activity (Gross Primary Productivity, GPP). For grass pollen this approach does not fit, therefore we use average temperature and precipitation of the previous year in a first approach.SILAM modelled and observed time series of daily birch pollen levels of 50 birch pollen seasons at multiple sites in Belgium correlate well for the period 2008-2018 with an increased R&#178; of up to ~50% compared to the reference run. What is more, SILAM is able to capture the allergy thresholds of 50 and 80 pollen grains m-&#179; exposure from the observations for birch trees. Grass pollen simulations are in progress.

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EMPOL 1.0: a new parameterization of pollen emission in numerical weather prediction models

Geoscientific Model Development Discussions ◽

10.5194/gmdd-6-3137-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 3137-3178 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

K. Zink ◽

A. Pauling ◽

M. W. Rotach ◽

H. Vogel ◽

P. Kaufmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Numerical Weather Prediction ◽

Prediction Models ◽

Weather Prediction ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Key Factors ◽

Physical Processes ◽

Pollen Emission ◽

Numerical Weather ◽

Pollen Concentrations ◽

Numerical Weather Prediction Models

Abstract. Simulating pollen concentrations with numerical weather prediction (NWP) systems requires a parameterization for pollen emission. We have developed a parameterization that is adaptable for different plant species. Both biological and physical processes of pollen emission are taken into account by parameterizing emission as a~two-step process: (1) the release of the pollen from the flowers, and (2) their entrainment into the atmosphere. Key factors influencing emission are: temperature, relative humidity, the turbulent kinetic energy and precipitation. We have simulated the birch pollen season of 2012 using the NWP system COSMO-ART, both with a parameterization already present in the model and our new parameterization EMPOL. The statistical results show that the performance of the model can be enhanced using EMPOL.

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Unusually high birch (Betula spp.) pollen concentrations in Poland in 2016 related to long-range transport (LRT) and the regional pollen occurrence

Aerobiologia ◽

10.1007/s10453-021-09703-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Dorota Myszkowska ◽

Katarzyna Piotrowicz ◽

Monika Ziemianin ◽

Maximilian Bastl ◽

Uwe Berger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Long Range ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Pollen Allergy ◽

Long Range Transport ◽

Synoptic Situation ◽

Phenological Data ◽

Full Flowering ◽

Pollen Concentrations ◽

Range Transport

Abstract In 2016, the highest birch (Betula spp.) pollen concentrations were recorded in Kraków (Poland) since the beginning of pollen observations in 1991. The aim of this study was to ascertain the reason for this phenomenon, taking the local sources of pollen in Poland and long-range transport (LRT) episodes associated with the pollen influx from other European countries into account. Three periods of higher pollen concentrations in Kraków in 2016 were investigated with the use of pollen data, phenological data, meteorological data and the HYSPLIT numerical model to calculate trajectories up to 4 days back (96 h) at the selected Polish sites. From 5 to 8 April, the birch pollen concentrations increased in Kraków up to 4000 Pollen/m3, although no full flowering of birch trees in the city was observed. The synoptic situation with air masses advection from the South as well as backward trajectories and the general birch pollen occurrence in Europe confirm that pollen was transported mainly from Serbia, Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, into Poland. The second analyzed period (13–14 April) was related largely to the local flowering of birches, while the third one in May (6–7 May) mostly resulted from the birch pollen transport from Fennoscandia and the Baltic countries. Unusual high pollen concentrations at the beginning of the pollen season can augment the symptomatic burden of birch pollen allergy sufferers and should be considered during therapy. Such incidents also affect the estimation of pollen seasons timing and severity. Graphical Abstract

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