Analysis of changes in Betula pollen season start including the cycle of pollen concentration in atmospheric air

Birch belongs to the most important allergenic taxa in Europe, therefore information on the start dates of the pollen season is very important for allergists and their patients as well as for climatologists. The study examined changes in the start of the birch pollen season as well as determined the trend of these changes. Pollen monitoring was performed in Lublin (eastern Poland) in the period 2001–2019 using the volumetric method. The Makra-test was used to detect periods with significantly higher or lower average of the onset than the average for the whole dataset. Two significant falls in the average of the pollen season start were found in 2007 and 2014. Besides, taking into account the 2-3-year rhythm of high and low concentrations of birch pollen in the atmospheric air, linear trends were fitted for the subsets of high and low abundance seasons. Significant changes in Betula pollen season start dates were only determined for the highly abundance seasons, while the results for seasons with a low concentration did not allow rejecting the hypothesis about the lack of a linear trend in the changes in the studied parameter. Moreover, a significant polynomial relationship was found between the beginning of a pollen season and the average values of monthly temperatures preceded a season. These analyses show that the start dates of the Betula pollen season are getting significantly earlier. The dynamics of changes differ between seasons with high and low concentrations of pollen.

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50 Years of Pollen Monitoring in Basel (Switzerland) Demonstrate the Influence of Climate Change on Airborne Pollen

Frontiers in Allergy ◽

10.3389/falgy.2021.677159 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

Author(s):

Regula Gehrig ◽

Bernard Clot

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Pollen Season ◽

Airborne Pollen ◽

Linear Trend ◽

Linear Increase ◽

Pollen Monitoring ◽

Pollen Species ◽

Poaceae Pollen ◽

Almost All ◽

Start Dates

Climate change and human impact on vegetation modify the timing and the intensity of the pollen season. The 50 years of pollen monitoring in Basel, Switzerland provide a unique opportunity to study long-term changes in pollen data. Since 1969, pollen monitoring has been carried out in Basel with a Hirst-type pollen trap. Pollen season parameters for start dates, end dates and duration were calculated with different pollen season definitions, which are commonly used in aerobiology. Intensity was analyzed by the annual pollen integral (APIn), peak value and the number of days above specific thresholds. Linear trends were calculated with the non-parametric Mann Kendall method with a Theil-Sen linear trend slope. During the last 50 years, linear increase of the monthly mean temperatures in Basel was 0.95–1.95°C in the 3 winter months, 2–3.7°C in spring months and 2.75–3.85°C in summer months. Due to this temperature increase, the start dates of the pollen season for most of the spring pollen species have advanced, from 7 days for Poaceae to 29 days for Taxus/Cupressaceae. End dates of the pollen season depend on the chosen pollen season definition. Negative trends predominate, i.e., the pollen season mostly ends earlier. Trends in the length of the pollen season depend even more on the season definitions and results are contradictory and often not significant. The intensity of the pollen season of almost all tree pollen taxa increased significantly, while the Poaceae pollen season did not change and the pollen season of herbs decreased, except for Urticaceae pollen. Climate change has a particular impact on the pollen season, but the definitions used for the pollen season parameters are crucial for the calculation of the trends. The most stable results were achieved with threshold definitions that indicate regular occurrence above certain concentrations. Percentage definitions are not recommended for trend studies when the annual pollen integral changed significantly.

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Oak pollen concentration in the air of selected Polish cities in 2020

Alergoprofil ◽

10.24292/01.ap.1643311220.3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 15-20

Author(s):

Anna Rapiejko ◽

Małgorzata Malkiewicz ◽

Monika Ziemianin ◽

Aneta Sulborska ◽

Kazimiera Chłopek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pollen Season ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Volumetric Method ◽

Pollen Concentration ◽

Total Catch ◽

Pollen Concentrations ◽

Oak Pollen ◽

Annual Total ◽

High Concentrations

The study aims to compare the oak pollen season in selected Polish cities; Bialystok, Bydgoszcz, Cracow, Katowice, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Lublin, Olsztyn, Opole, Szczecin, Warsaw, and Wroclaw in 2020. Measurements were made using the volumetric method, with a Hirst-type sampler. Oak pollen season, defined as the period with 98% of the annual total catch, started between 14 (in Opole) and 25 April (in Lublin). The season ended on 1 June at the latest; in Sosnowiec, Bydgoszcz, Olsztyn, and Bialystok. It lasted from 30 to 47 days (37 days on average). The maximum daily oak pollen concentrations were observed between 24 April and 11 May. The highest annual sum of oak pollen grains (SPI) was recorded in Lublin, while the lowest in Bialystok. The highest concentrations of 596 oak pollen grains/m3 were noted in Lublin on 28 April. The longest exposure to high concentrations of oak pollen (>91 grains/m3), lasting 12-13 days, was recorded in Lublin, Opole, and Wroclaw.

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Mugwort (Artemisia L.), nettle (Urtica L.) and plantain (Plantago L.) pollen in the atmosphere of Wrocław in the years 2002-2004

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2006.036 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 59 (1) ◽

pp. 347-354

Author(s):

Małgorzata Malkiewicz

Keyword(s):

Pollen Season ◽

Average Duration ◽

Volumetric Method ◽

Pollen Concentration ◽

Strong Variation ◽

Burkard Trap ◽

Pollen Seasons

The paper includes the results of pollen season analysis of the selected plants (mugwort, nettle, plantain) regarded as the most allergenic in Wrocław in 2002-2004. The studies were carried out using volumetric method (Burkard trap). The results show strong variation in pollen seasons. The average duration of the pollen season of Artemisia was 82 days. The highest pollen concentration of mugwort was recorded in 2004 (156 grains × m-3). The start of nettle pollen seasons varied in studied period on average by 24 days, on average, but its end was almost the same. The pollen season of Urtica was the earliest in 2004. It started on 5th May and lasted 136 days. The annual pollen total of Plantago was relatively low, on average 0.2-0.4% in annual pollen totals.

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Mugwort (Artemisia L.) pollen in aeroplankton of Lublin, 2001-2005

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2006.067 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 59 (2) ◽

pp. 121-130

Author(s):

Elżbieta Weryszko-Chmielewska ◽

Bogusław M. Kaszewski ◽

Krystyna Piotrowska

Keyword(s):

Relative Humidity ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Negative Correlation ◽

Pollen Season ◽

Significant Positive Correlation ◽

Meteorological Factors ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Volumetric Method ◽

Pollen Concentration ◽

The Impact

The course of the Artemisia pollen season was recorded in Lublin over a period of five years: 2001-2005. The volumetric method was applied in the studies, using a VPPS 2000 Lanzoni trap. The length of the season was determined by the 98% method. The impact of several meteorological factors on the start and course of the pollen season was analysed. It was found that in the five-year period studied the mugwort pollen season started in the second or third decade of July and lasted 59-90 days. Maximum concentrations in the range of 103-221 pollen grains in 1 m3 of air were noted between 2 and 9 August. Annual totals of mugwort pollen grains ranged from 1496 to 2532. A significant positive correlation was demonstrated between the Artemisia pollen concentration and air temperature, and a negative correlation between the pollen concentration and air relative humidity and cloudiness. A significant impact of temperature on the start of the Artemisia pollen season was also found.

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Analysis of Corylus pollen season in Poland in 2021

Alergoprofil ◽

10.24292/01.ap.172290621 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 54-59

Author(s):

Krystyna Piotrowska-Weryszko ◽

Elżbieta Weryszko-Chmielewska ◽

Katarzyna Dąbrowska-Zapart ◽

Monika Ziemianin ◽

Małgorzata Puc ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pollen Season ◽

Pollen Allergy ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Early Spring ◽

Volumetric Method ◽

Pollen Concentration ◽

The Third ◽

Pollen Seasons ◽

Daily Concentration ◽

Peak Value

Corylus produces allergenic pollen grains that appear in the air in early spring and cause pollen allergy in sensitive people. The aim of this study was to compare the Corylus pollen seasons in 2021 in the following 11 cities in Poland: Bialystok, Bydgoszcz, Cracow, Sosnowiec, Lublin, Olsztyn, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Szczecin, Warsaw, Wroclaw, and Zielona Gora. This research was conducted using the volumetric method and Burkard or Lanzoni pollen samplers. Pollen season duration was determined by the 95% method. The hazel pollen season in 2021 began relatively late, between February 20 and March 1. The season start was recorded earliest in Zielona Gora, while latest in Olsztyn. The highest values of maximum Corylus pollen concentration were recorded in Sosnowiec (230 P/m3) and Zielona Gora (213 P/m3), whereas the lowest ones in Bialystok (27 P/m3) and Bydgoszcz (54 P/m3). In most of these cities, the maximum daily concentration of Corylus pollen grains was recorded in the third 10 days of February or at the beginning of March and only in Lublin and Bialystok the peak value occurred later, on March 16 and March 26, respectively. The highest risk of allergy in people sensitive to the pollen of this taxon was found in Lublin, Olsztyn, and Zielona Gora. The highest values of the annual pollen integral were determined in Lublin, similarly to the previous years.

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Analysis of the grass (Poaceae L.) pollen seasons in Wrocław, 2003-2010

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2011.046 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 64 (4) ◽

pp. 59-66

Author(s):

Małgorzata Malkiewicz ◽

Kamilla Klaczak

Keyword(s):

Cluster Analysis ◽

Grass Pollen ◽

Pollen Season ◽

Volumetric Method ◽

Pollen Concentration ◽

Hierarchical Method ◽

Grass Pollen Season ◽

Burkard Trap ◽

Pollen Seasons ◽

The Mean

The aim of the study was to analyse the grass pollen season dynamics in Wrocław in 2003-2010. The studies were carried out using volumetric method (Burkard trap). Special attentions was paid to differences in pollen season duration and patterns. The pollen season started on average on the 130th day of the year (±10 days) and ended on the 240th (±11 days). Peak of pollen seasons occurred between 156th and 185th day of the year. The mean of SPI value was 2805 (±380). On average, 18 days (±4 days) with a grass pollen concentration of more than 50 grains × m-3, and 2 days (±1 day) with concentration of more than 120 grains × m-3 were recorded during the seasons analysed. Three types of pollen seasons were distinguished on the basis of cluster analysis (the non-hierarchical method of multifeature clustering - the k-means method).

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Variability in the Betula pollen concentrations in the atmosphere of six urban areas in Slovakia in 2018

Alergoprofil ◽

10.24292/01.ap.162250620 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 21-24

Author(s):

Jana Ščevková ◽

Janka Lafférsová ◽

Jozef Dušička ◽

Mária Tropeková

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Pollen Season ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Pollen Monitoring ◽

Central European ◽

Start Date ◽

Betula Pollen ◽

Pollen Concentrations ◽

Birch Pollen Allergen ◽

Total Pollen

Betula pollen is one of the most important aeroallergens during the spring months in the central European countries. In 2018, pollen monitoring was conducted in six urban areas (Bratislava, Banská Bystrica, Košice, Nitra, Trnava, and Žilina) in Slovakia. Investigations were carried out using a volumetric Hirst-type pollen trap (Burkard). Betula pollen season timing was determined by the 90% method when the start and end of the season were defined as the date when 5% and 95%, respectively of the total pollen sum was reached. The pollen season start date was recorded earliest in Bratislava (April 8th) and latest in Banská Bystrica (April 12th). The highest both seasonal total pollen concentration (7,390 P/m3) and birch pollen allergen risk were found in Banská Bystrica. The shortest pollen season was recorded in Žilina (13 days) and the longest in Košice (25 days). Peak daily pollen concentrations ranged between 1,567 P/m3 in Žilina and 202 P/m3 in Košice.

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Pollen seasons of selected tree and shrub taxa in Kraków and its neighbourhood

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2007.033 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 60 (2) ◽

pp. 71-77 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Dorota Myszkowska ◽

Bartosz Jenner ◽

Katarzyna Cywa ◽

Monika Kuropatwa ◽

Danuta Stępalska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pollen Season ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Volumetric Method ◽

Pollen Concentrations ◽

Pollen Seasons ◽

Start Dates

The aim of the study was to compare the dynamics of pollen seasons of selected tree and shrub taxa among measurement sites in Kraków and its neighbourhood. The study was performed in Kraków and Piotrkowice Małe in 2002, as well as in Kraków and Giebułtów in 2006. During the study the volumetric method was applied and pollen grains were counted along four horizontal lines. The lowest percentage of Corylus pollen and the highest percentage of Betula pollen were found in the analysed sites. The differences among start dates in various measurement sites in a given year were inconsiderable. Statistically signifi cant differences of SPI values for the majority of taxa were found between measurement sites and between seasons for Kraków. The pollen season dynamics showed one (Betula, Pinaceae) or more maximum values (Corylus, Populus, Fraxinus, Salix). The occurrence of many peaks could be explained by the appearance of several species within one genus in the studied area or by various weather conditions. In 2002 maximum pollen concentrations were recorded earlier than in 2006. The differences in these dates could be explained better by cumulative temperature >5℃ than >0℃.

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Variations in birch (Betula spp.) pollen seasons in Lublin and correlations with meteorological factors in the period 2001-2010. A preliminary study

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2011.016 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 64 (2) ◽

pp. 39-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Krystyna Piotrowska ◽

Bogusław M. Kaszewski

Keyword(s):

Pollen Season ◽

Meteorological Factors ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Significant Negative Correlation ◽

City Centre ◽

Seasonal Temperature ◽

Pollen Monitoring ◽

Pollen Seasons

In Poland birch belongs to the most important taxa producing allergenic pollen, therefore information on the start dates, duration and severity of the pollen season is very important for allergists and their patients as well as for climatologists. Birch pollen monitoring was conducted in Lublin using the volumetric method during the period 2001-2010. A Lanzoni VPPS 2000 trap was placed at a height of 18 m in the city centre. The pollen season was determined using three methods: 98%, 95%, and 90%. The present study also investigated correlations between the birch pollen season parameters and meteorological factors. A comparison of the above-mentioned methods shows that, in the conditions prevailing in Lublin, the most appropriate method to determine the birch pollen season is the 98% method, since in the case of the two other methods too large quantities of pollen grains are eliminated. Based on a comparative analysis of the meteorological data from the study period and the long-term averages, it can be concluded that in the recent years a clear increase in air temperature has been recorded in Lublin. The study found a statistically significant negative correlation of seasonal pollen concentration with rainfall and air humidity. When the pre-peak and post-peak periods were separated, these correlations were larger and related to different meteorological factors. The start of the pollen season was negatively correlated with temperature in February and March. The season duration depended on temperature (a positive correlation). The date of the seasonal maximum was positively correlated with seasonal temperature and negatively with temperature in April.

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Fluctuation of birch (Betula L.) pollen seasons in Poland

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2015.041 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 68 (4) ◽

pp. 303-313 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Małgorzata Puc ◽

Tomasz Wolski ◽

Irene Câmara Camacho ◽

Dorota Myszkowska ◽

Idalia Kasprzyk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pollen Season ◽

Linear Trend ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Statistical Error ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Skewed Distribution ◽

Significance Level ◽

Fluctuation Pattern ◽

Pollen Seasons ◽

Pollen Release

Birch pollen grains are one of the most important groups of atmospheric biological particles that induce allergic processes. The fluctuation pattern of birch pollen seasons in selected cities of Poland is presented. Measurements were performed by the volumetric method (Burkard and Lanzoni 2000 pollen samplers). The distributions of the data were not normal (Shapiro–Wilk test) and statistical error risk was estimated at a significance level of α = 0.05. Pollen season was defined as the period in which 95% of the annual total catch occurred. The linear trend for the selected features of the pollen season, skewness, kurtosis and coefficient of variation (V%) were also analyzed. During the 12–14 years of study, the beginnings of birch pollen seasons were observed 7–14 days earlier, the ends were noted 5–10 days earlier, and the days with maximum values occurred 7–14 days earlier compared to the long-term data. The left-skewed distribution of the pollen season starts in most sampling sites confirms the short-lasting occurrence of pollen in the air. The threat of birch pollen allergens was high during the pollen seasons. If vegetation is highly diverse, flowering and pollen release are extended in time, spread over different weeks and occur at different times of the day. Flowering time and pollen release are affected by insolation, convection currents, wind, and turbulence. Therefore, pollen seasons are characterized by great inter-annual variability.

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