scholarly journals 757Using smartphone technology to characterise associations between respiratory symptoms and pollen

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Penelope Jones ◽  
Fay Johnston ◽  
Iain Koolhof ◽  
Antonio Gasparrini ◽  
Amanda Wheeler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Airborne Pollen ◽  
Environmental Epidemiology ◽  
Particulate Pollution ◽  
Exposure Response ◽  
Pollen Concentrations ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Smartphone Technology ◽  
Total Pollen

Abstract Background Pollen is a well-established trigger of asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, yet key gaps in our understanding remain. These include knowledge of concentration thresholds for symptoms, exposure-response associations through time, and the potential for interactions with other environmental stressors such as air pollution. Smartphone technology offers an opportunity to address these challenges using large datasets that capture individual symptoms in real time. Methods We analysed 44,820 symptom reports logged by 2,272 users of the AirRater app over four years to evaluate associations between daily respiratory symptoms and atmospheric concentrations of pollen in Tasmania, Australia. We used case time series, a novel methodology developed for app-sourced data. We adjusted for seasonality and meteorology and tested for interactions with particulate pollution (PM2.5). Results There was a non-linear association between pollen concentrations and respiratory symptoms for up to three days following exposure. Risk ratios (RR) were greatest on the same day, for total pollen increased steeply to a RR of 1.31 (95% CI: 1.26-1.37) at a concentration of 50 grains/m3 before plateauing. Associations with individual pollen taxa showed similar non-linear trends. There was an interaction with PM2.5, with effect estimates significantly higher when PM2.5 was >50 µg/m3 (p for interaction < 0.001). Conclusions The association between respiratory symptoms and airborne pollen was non-linear, greatest in magnitude on the day of exposure, and synergistic with air pollution. Key messages Smartphone symptom tracking offers a useful means of assessing dose-response relationships in environmental epidemiology.

Thirty-Year Survey on Airborne Pollen Concentrations in Genoa, Italy: Relationship with Sensitizations, Meteorological Data, and Air Pollution

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. e232-e241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arsenio Corrado Negrini ◽  
Simone Negrini ◽  
Vania Giunta ◽  
Silvana Quaglini ◽  
Giorgio Ciprandi
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Pollen Season ◽  
Meteorological Parameters ◽  
Airborne Pollen ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Pollen Allergy ◽  
Pollen Species ◽  
Pollen Concentrations ◽  
Large Populations ◽  
Pollen Release

Background Pollen allergy represents a relevant health issue. Betulaceae sensitization significantly increased in Genoa, Italy, in the last decades. This study investigated possible relationships among pollen count, meteorological changes, air pollution, and sensitizations in this city during a 30-year period. Methods Betulaceae, Urticaceae, Gramineae, and Oleaceae pollen counts were measured from 1981 to 2010 in Genoa. Sensitization to these pollens was also considered in large populations of allergic patients. Meteorological parameters and pollutants were also measured in the same area. Results Betulaceae sensitization increased over time. All pollen species significantly increased over this time. Pollen season advanced for Betulaceae and Urticaceae. Only Urticaceae season significantly increased. Temperature increased while rainfall decreased over the time. Pollutants significantly decreased. There were some relationships between pollen changes and climatic and air pollution parameters. Conclusion This 30-year study conducted in an urbanized area provided evidence that Betulaceae sensitization significantly increased, pollen load significantly augmented, and climate and air pollution changed with a possible influence on pollen release.

scholarly journals Análisis del contenido aeropolínico estival en la provincia de Málaga

2001 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 89-98
Author(s):  
Marta Recio ◽  
M. Mar Trigo ◽  
Silvia Docampo ◽  
Baltasar Cabezudo
Keyword(s):  
Airborne Pollen ◽  
Summer Season ◽  
Palabras Clave ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Pollen Content ◽  
Pollen Types ◽  
Pollen Concentrations ◽  
Atmospheric Pollen ◽  
Annual Total ◽  
Total Pollen

RESUMEN. Análisis del contenido aeropolínico estival en la provincia de Málaga. En el presente trabajo se realiza un estudio del contenido polínico de la atmósfera de la provincia de Málaga durante cl periodo estival (Julio-Septiembre) tomando los registros obtenidos durante los últimos años en varias localidades de la provincia: Málaga (1992-1999), Estepona (1995-1997), Antequera (1998-1999) y Nerja (2000). En general, durante estos tres meses se recoge sólo entre el 3 y el 6% del polen anual, estando el espectro aeropolínico estival de Málaga representado básicamente por 14 tipos polínicos: Eucalyptus, Castanea, Parkinsotzia, Cannabis, Apiaceae, Ligustrum, Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae, Palmae, Compositae, Artemisia, Typha, Cyperaceae, Poaceae y U rticaceae. Los tipos que alcanzan mayores concentraciones son Eucalyptus, Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae y Poaceae. El resto de los taxa citados aparecen en concentraciones muy bajas. Determinados taxa presentan concentraciones más elevadas en determinadas estaciones de muestreo: Castanea y Compositae en Antequera, Palmae y Parkinsonia en Málaga, y Artemisia en Nerja. La evolución a lo largo de los tres meses muestra, en general, dos tipos de tendencia: una descendente de Julio a Agosto (presente en todos los tipos polínicos estudiados, excepto en Artemisia y Palinae, y en todas las zonas estudiadas) y otra ascendente, de Agosto a Septiembre, de pequeña intensidad, aunque muy acusada para los dos tipos anteriores y para Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae y Cotnpositae. La mayoría de los tipos polínicos estudiados tienen sus máximos diarios en primavera, estación del año con mayor concentración polínica en el sur de Europa, excepto Eucalyptus, Castanea, Parkinsonia y Cannabis, que generalmente lo tienen en verano, y que alcanzaron máximos históricos relevantes: Eucalyptus en 1994 (112 granos/111 3), Castanea en 1997 (233 granos/m 3), Cannabis en 1998 (28 granos/m 3).Palabras clave. Acrobiología, polen, verano, turismo, alergia, Málaga, sur de España.ABSTRACT. Analysis of the summer airborne pollen contera in the province of Malaga. In this work, a study about the atmospheric pollen content during the period July-September has been carried out in the province of Malaga. The study was made taking the data obtained during the last years in several localities of the province: Malaga (1992-1999), Estepona (1995-1997), Antequera (1998-1999) and Nerja (2000). In general, just between 3 and 6% of the annual total pollen were collected during those three months, the airborne pollen spectrum being represented by 14 pollen types: Eucalyptus, Castanea, Parkinsonia, Cannabis, Apiaceae, Ligustrum,Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae, Palmae, Compositae, Artemisia,Typha, Cyperaceae, Poaceae y Urticaceae. During the period studied, the pollen types that reached highest concentrations were Eucalyptus, Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae and Poaceae while the rest of the cited taxa were detected at very low concentrations. Some taxa present higher concentrations at determined sampling stations: Costana(' and Compositae in Antequera, Palmae and Parkin.s. onia in Malaga, and Artemisia in Ncrja. The evolution along the summer season shows, in general, two trends. The first one, in which the pollen concentrations are decreasing from July to August, is present in all the taxa and localities studied, except in Artemisia and Palmae. The other one, in which the pollen concentrations lightly increase from August to September, is present in the former two pollen types but also in Chenopodiaceae- Amarantliaceae and Compositae. Most of the pollen types studied reach their maximum daily peaks in spring (season in which the pollen concentrations are highest in southern Europe) except Eucalyptus, Castanea, Parkinsonia and Cannabis, that generally presented them in summer. These taxa reached notable maximum daily concentrations values: Eucalyptus in 1994 (112 grains/m 3), Castanea in 1997 (233 grains/ in3), Cannabis in 1998 (28 grains/m 3).Key words. Aerobiology, pollen, summer, tourism, allergy, Malaga, southern Spain.

scholarly journals Impact of air pollution on pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms in children. Longitudinal repeated-measures study

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benigno Linares ◽  
Juan M Guizar ◽  
Norma Amador ◽  
Alfonso Garcia ◽  
Victor Miranda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Pulmonary Function ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms

Long-Term Ambient Air Pollution and Respiratory Symptoms in Adults (SAPALDIA Study)

1999 ◽  
Vol 159 (4) ◽  
pp. 1257-1266 ◽  
Author(s):  
ELIZABETH ZEMP ◽  
SERGE ELSASSER ◽  
CHRISTIAN SCHINDLER ◽  
NINO KÜNZLI ◽  
ANDRÉ P. PERRUCHOUD ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution

scholarly journals Trends and threshold exceedances analysis of airborne pollen concentrations in Metropolitan Santiago Chile

PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. e0123077 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Toro A. ◽  
Alicia Córdova J. ◽  
Mauricio Canales ◽  
Raul G. E. Morales S. ◽  
Pedro Mardones P. ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Airborne Pollen ◽  
Pollen Concentrations ◽  
Threshold Exceedances

scholarly journals Neural networks for increased accuracy of allergenic pollen monitoring

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel Polling ◽  
Chen Li ◽  
Lu Cao ◽  
Fons Verbeek ◽  
Letty A. de Weger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Airborne Pollen ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Allergenic Pollen ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
Pollen Monitoring ◽  
Pollen Concentrations ◽  
Source Of Information ◽  
Urticaceae Pollen

AbstractMonitoring of airborne pollen concentrations provides an important source of information for the globally increasing number of hay fever patients. Airborne pollen is traditionally counted under the microscope, but with the latest developments in image recognition methods, automating this process has become feasible. A challenge that persists, however, is that many pollen grains cannot be distinguished beyond the genus or family level using a microscope. Here, we assess the use of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to increase taxonomic accuracy for airborne pollen. As a case study we use the nettle family (Urticaceae), which contains two main genera (Urtica and Parietaria) common in European landscapes which pollen cannot be separated by trained specialists. While pollen from Urtica species has very low allergenic relevance, pollen from several species of Parietaria is severely allergenic. We collect pollen from both fresh as well as from herbarium specimens and use these without the often used acetolysis step to train the CNN model. The models show that unacetolyzed Urticaceae pollen grains can be distinguished with > 98% accuracy. We then apply our model on before unseen Urticaceae pollen collected from aerobiological samples and show that the genera can be confidently distinguished, despite the more challenging input images that are often overlain by debris. Our method can also be applied to other pollen families in the future and will thus help to make allergenic pollen monitoring more specific.

Use of face masks and allergic rhinitis from ragweed: why mention only total pollen count and not air pollution levels?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gennaro Liccardi ◽  
Matteo Martini ◽  
Maria Beatrice Bilò ◽  
Manlio Milanese ◽  
Paola Rogliani
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Allergic Rhinitis ◽  
Pollen Count ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Total Pollen
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