Quantitative assessment of coagulation of atmospheric particles onto airborne birch pollen grains

Abstract. Within the last years pollen grains have gained increasing attention due to their cloud forming potential. Especially the discovery that ice nucleating macromolecules (INM) or subpollen particles (SPP) obtained from pollen grains are able to initiate freezing has stirred up interest in pollen. INM or SPP are much smaller and potentially more numerous than pollen grains and could significantly affect cloud formation in the atmosphere. However, INM and SPP are not clearly distinguished and explanations on how these materials could distribute in the atmosphere are missing. In this study we focus on birch pollen and investigate the relationship between pollen grains, INM and SPP. According to the usage of the term SPP in the medical fields we define SPP as the starch granules contained in pollen grains. We develop an extraction method to generate large quantities of SPP and show that INM are loosley attached to SPP. Further, we find that purified SPP are not ice nucleation active: after several times of washing SPP with ultrapure water the ice nucleation activity completely disappears. To our knowledge this is the first study to investigate the ice nucleation activity of isolated SPP. To study the chemical nature of the INM we use fluorescence spectroscopy. Fluorescence excitation-emission maps indicate a strong signal in the protein range (maximum around λex = 280 nm and λem = 330 nm) that correlates with the ice nucleation activity. In contrast, with purified SPP this signal is lost. We also quantify the protein concentration with the Bradford assay. The protein concentration ranges from 77.4 μg mL−1 (Highly concentrated INM) to below 2.5 μg mL−1 (purified SPP). The results indicate a linkage between ice nucleation activity and protein concentration. Even though purified SPP are not ice nucleation active they could act as carriers of INM and distribute those in the atmosphere.

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The threat of allergenic airborne trees pollen to pollinosis sufferers in a rural area (Western Pomerania, Poland)

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2015.039 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 68 (4) ◽

pp. 325-331 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aleksandra Kruczek ◽

Małgorzata Puc ◽

Alina Stacewicz ◽

Tomasz Wolski

Keyword(s):

Pollen Season ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Daily Maximum ◽

Pollen Concentrations ◽

Diurnal Distribution ◽

Annual Total ◽

Total Pollen ◽

Pollen Seasons ◽

The Village

The aim of the study was to investigate the concentration of Alnus L., Corylus L. and Betula L. pollen in the village of Gudowo (Western Pomerania, Poland) in the years 2012–2014 in order to estimate the threat of allergenic tree pollen in this rural region. Measurements were performed using the volumetric method (VPPS Lanzoni 2000 pollen sampler). The duration of the pollen season was determined by the 98% method, taking days on which, respectively, 1% and 99% of the annual total pollen grains appeared as the beginning and end of the season. Pollen grains from hazel occurred in the air as the first ones, before pollen grains from alder and birch. The earliest beginning of the hazel pollen season was recorded in 2012, whereas alder and birch pollen seasons started the earliest in 2014. Daily maximum pollen concentrations of the investigated taxa were recorded in 2014. Birch pollen allergens posed the largest threat to pollinosis sufferers. In the years 2012–2014, pollen concentrations equal or higher than threshold values, at which people with pollinosis show allergic symptoms, were recorded most frequently for birch, hazel, and alder (25, 19, and 14 days, respectively). The highest hourly alder pollen concentration was recorded at 16:00 and in the case of hazel at 15:00. The diurnal distribution of birch pollen concentrations does not show any distinct peaks.

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The influence of weather conditions on the course of pollen seasons of alder (Alnus spp.), hazel (Corylus spp.) and birch (Betula spp.) in Lublin (2001-2006)

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2008.006 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

pp. 53-57 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Agnieszka Dąbrowska

Keyword(s):

Pollen Season ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Thermal Conditions ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Air Humidity ◽

Relative Air Humidity ◽

Beginning Of Flowering ◽

Pollen Seasons

The start and rate of florescence of Alnus, Corylus and Betula are dependent on meteorological conditions. In the present paper we have analysed the effect of mean, maximum and minimum temperature, relative air humidity and precipitation on the onset of the pollen season as well as on its length and annual count of pollen grains in alder, hazel and birch. The measurement of pollen fall was done by the gravimetric methods with the use of Durham sampler. Correlation coefficients were calculated between the determined characteristics of the pollen season and weather conditions. In the six-year research period 2001-2006 it was observed that low temperatures in January produced a delayed start of the pollen season in alder, hazel and birch. The beginning of flowering in these taxa was also influenced by thermal conditions prevailing directly before the season (ca. 10 days). The pollen season of the trees in question tended to be prolonged alongside with the increase in relative air humidity, but it was shortened due to higher temperatures. The volume of alder and hazel pollen release increased together with the rise in relative air humidity and precipitation. The annual counts of birch pollen increased along with rising temperature and decreasing relative air humidity and precipitation in the season.

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Specific subcutaneus immunotherapy by a birch extract absorbed onto calcium phosphate

Rossiiskii Allergologicheskii ZHurnal ◽

10.36691/rja915 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 79-84

Author(s):

M A Mokronosova ◽

E S Korovkina

Keyword(s):

Calcium Phosphate ◽

Pollen Season ◽

Rescue Medication ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Pollen Allergy ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis ◽

Control Group ◽

Common Disease ◽

One Year

Background. Allergic rhinitis is a common disease, affecting 25-35% of the population. Birch pollen is a significant cause of immediate hypersensitivity among sensitive subjects, affecting about 80% of the population in the central part of Russian Federation. Specific subcutaneus immunotherapy (SCIT) is the only treatment producing lasting clinical improvement in patients with allergy. The aim, of the study was to investigate the efficacy of one - year SCIT for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis for birch pollen using the Average Rhinoconjunctivitis Total Symptom Score (ARTSS) and Average Rescue Medication Score (ARMS). Materials and methods. 54 subjects with IgE-mediated seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis with/without seasonal asthma were enrolled; 47 patients with pollen allergy were included in a control group. All patients were sensitized to birch pollen-allergens. SCIT was performed during 9 months 2009-2010 years by a birch extract standardized in IR and absorbed onto calcium phosphate (Phostal, France). Patients were asked to complete diary during the birch pollination season (from 1 April to 1 June). Pollen grains were counted daily during the pollen seasons by standardized protocol and the amount of pollen was expressed as the number of pollen grains/m3 air. The ARTSS was derived from individual symptom scores for nasal and eye symptoms during the pollen season. In addition there was a daily score for the use of rescue medication (ARMS). Rescue medication allowed included Hl-antihistamines, nasal steroids, oral steroids; each puff, drop (nostril/eye), tablet counted as one point. Results. The seasonal pollen counts and the duration of the pollen season had differed in 2009 and in 2010. Reduction in ARTSS of 29% and decrease in ARMS of 28,9% were found in the birch pollen season for subjects treated with the SCIT compared with controls after one year of treatment. The immunotherapy after the end of the treatment was not effective in 3 patients (5%). Conclusion. Immunotherapy by Phostal shows clinical effect on development of seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis. The decrease in ARTSS for Phostal-treated patients that occurred in parallel with a marked reduction in their requirement for ARMS provides additional evidence for the efficacy of SCIT over and above usual pharmacotherapy for rhinitis.

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Subpollen particles (SPP) of birch as carriers of ice nucleating macromolecules

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-14807 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Julia Burkart ◽

Jürgen Gratzl ◽

Teresa Seifried ◽

Paul Bieber ◽

Hinrich Grothe

Keyword(s):

Protein Concentration ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Ice Nucleation ◽

Early Spring ◽

Cloud Formation ◽

Starch Granules ◽

Fluorescence Excitation ◽

Nucleation Activity ◽

Ice Nucleation Activity

Wind pollinated trees such as birch trees release large amounts of pollen to the atmosphere during their blooming season in early spring. Due to the large size of pollen (birch pollen diameter: 20-25 &#181;m) and short residence time in the atmosphere, their impact on cloud formation was believed to be negligible. However, in recent years studies have shown that ice nucleating materials, so called ice nucleating macromolecules (INM), much smaller in size can be extracted from pollen. At the same time there is evidence from medical studies that pollen can rupture under conditions of high humidity in the atmosphere and expel cytoplasmic material including starch granules, commonly referred to as subpollen particles (SPP). INM or SPP are much smaller and potentially more numerous than pollen and could significantly affect cloud formation in the atmosphere.In this study, we focus on birch pollen and investigate the relationship between pollen grains, INM and SPP. According to the usage of the term SPP in the medical field we define SPP as the starch granules contained in pollen grains. We develop an extraction method to generate large quantities of SPP and investigate their ice nucleation activity. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the ice nucleation activity of isolated SPP. We show that INM are only loosely attached to SPP and that purified SPP are not ice nucleation active: after several times of washing SPP with ultrapure water the ice nucleation activity completely disappears. In addition, we study the chemical nature of the INM with fluorescence spectroscopy and quantify the protein concentration with the Bradford assay. Fluorescence excitation-emission maps indicate a strong signal in the protein range (maximum around &#955;ex = 280 nm and &#955;em = 330 nm) that correlates with the ice nucleation activity. In contrast, with purified SPP this signal is lost. The protein concentration ranges from 77.4 &#956;g mL-1 for highly concentrated INM to below 2.5 &#956;g mL-1 for purified SPP. The results thereby indicate a linkage between ice nucleation activity and protein concentration. Purified SPP are not ice nucleation active but could, however, act as carriers of INM and distribute those in the atmosphere.

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Reactions of Airway Epithelial Cells to Birch Pollen Grains Previously Exposed to In Situ Atmospheric Pb Concentrations: A Preliminary Assay of Allergenicity

Biological Trace Element Research ◽

10.1007/s12011-012-9485-7 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 150 (1-3) ◽

pp. 391-395 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Anne-Pauline Bellanger ◽

Floriane Bosch-Cano ◽

Laurence Millon ◽

Pascale Ruffaldi ◽

Marielle Franchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Epithelial Cells ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Airway Epithelial Cells ◽

Airway Epithelial

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Detection and characterization of birch pollen in the atmosphere using multi-wavelength Raman lidar in Finland

10.5194/acp-2019-635 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Stephanie Bohlmann ◽

Xiaoxia Shang ◽

Elina Giannakaki ◽

Maria Filioglou ◽

Annika Saarto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Birch Pollen ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Mean Value ◽

Forest Site ◽

Depolarization Ratio ◽

Atmospheric Conditions ◽

Raman Lidar ◽

Pollen Types ◽

Multi Wavelength ◽

532 Nm

Abstract. We present the results of birch pollen characterization using lidar measurements based on a 11-day period of birch pollination from 5 to 15 May 2016 at the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) station in Vehmasmäki (Kuopio, 62°44′ N, 27°33′ E), Finland. The ground-based multi-wavelength Raman lidar PollyXT performed continuous measurements at this rural forest site and has been combined with a Hirst-type volumetric air sampler which measured the pollen type and concentration on roof level (4 m). The period was separated into two parts due to different atmospheric conditions and detected pollen types. During the first period, high concentrations of birch pollen were measured with a maximum two-hour average pollen concentration of 3700 grains/m³. Other pollen types represented less than 3 % of the total pollen count. In observed pollen layers, the mean particle depolarization ratio at 532 nm was 10 ± 6 % during the intense birch pollination period. Mean lidar ratios were found to be 45 ± 7 and 55 ± 16 sr at 355 and 532 nm, respectively. During the second period, birch pollen was still dominant but a significant contribution of spruce pollen was observed. Spruce pollen grains are highly non-spherical, leading to a larger mean depolarization ratio of 26 ± 7 % of the birch-spruce pollen mixture. Furthermore, higher lidar ratios were observed during this period with a mean value of 60 ± 3 and 62 ± 10 sr at 355 and 532 nm, respectively. The presented study shows the potential of the particle depolarization ratio to track pollen grains in the atmosphere.

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Effect of pollen with different predator release ratios on biological control of Tetranychus urticae by the predaceous mite Kampimodromus aberrans

Systematic and Applied Acarology ◽

10.11158/saa.24.7.13 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (7) ◽

pp. 1310-1318

Author(s):

Ismail Kasap

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Tetranychus Urticae ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Control Group ◽

Kampimodromus Aberrans ◽

Low Levels ◽

The Impact ◽

Predator Release

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of birch pollen (Betula pendula Roth.) on the efficacy of the predatory mite Kampimodromus aberrans (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) as a biological control agent for the two spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) at different predator release ratios. The experiments were conducted on apple cv. Golden Delicious at 1:5, 1:15 and 1:30 predator-prey release ratios in a climate room (25±2°C, 65±10% RH and 16:8 L:D). The predatory mites were also offered pollen grains daily (0.5-0.10 mg/leaf) on the apple seedling during the experiments. One week after the release of K. aberrans, significant reductions in T. urticae density were observed at a ratio of 1:5; and the density remained at low levels thereafter, especially in the pollen experiments. The highest mean numbers of T. urticae in the control group (no predator release) were observed in week 3 with 4067 mites per leaf and 4922 mites per leaf, respectively for the pollen and no pollen application plots. This study demonstrates the potential of K. aberrans to effectively control T. urticae at ratios of 1:5 and 1:15 within three weeks, especially at a ratio of 1:5 when the pollen was added. Furthermore, releasing K. aberrans at the appropriate time and ratio enabled more successful control of T. urticae populations and plant damage, and subsequently kept the mites at low levels.

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