Characteristic of pollen seasons in the most sensitizing plants based on 15 years of observation in Warsaw

Introduction Allergic rhinitis concerns nearly 25% of the Polish population. Among pollen allergens, the most common reasons for allergic rhinitis are: grass, birch and mugwort. Knowledge of the characteristics of pollen seasons is necessary in diagnostics, monitoring of therapy and prevention of allergic rhinitis. Purpose This work aims to analyze the pollen seasons of the most commonly sensitizing plants in the Polish population; grass, birch and mugwort in the years 2003-2017 in Warsaw. Material and methods Measurements of pollen concentration were carried out using the Burkard volumetric apparatus operating in continuous volumetric mode. The analysis of pollen seasons was conducted based on the following characteristics: beginning, end, and length of season, annual sum of daily pollen concentrations, maximum daily concentration, number of days with maximum and threshold concentration. Linear regression together with the Pearson correlation coefficient were used in statistical analysis to study the relationship between variables; furthermore, descriptive characteristics of distributions studied were determined. Results The average date of the beginning of the birch pollen season in the analyzed period is April 10th, and it belongs to seasons of average length (47 days on average). Concentration above 75z/m3, when most allergic people expect allergic symptoms, was recorded for an average of 18 days. The highest daily concentration of birch pollen reaching 6321 grains/m3 (2006, 2012, 2016) exceeded the lowest value of the maximum concentration by almost 20 times (2015). Among the taxa analyzed, the highest values of daily concentration and annual sums were recorded for birch pollen. The average date for the beginning of grass pollination season is on May 13th. It is the longest pollen season (on average 134 days), and the period when concentration exceeded 50z/m3 covered an average of 26 days. The highest daily concentration of grass pollen reaching 496 grains/m3 (2005 and 2007) exceeded the lowest value of maximum concentration by 3.5 times (2016). The average date of the beginning of the brackish pollen season is July 16th. The season lasts 65 days on average, when concentration exceeding 30z/m3 was registered for an average of 12 days. The highest daily concentration of mugwort pollen reaching 154 grains/m3 (2007) exceeded the lowest value of maximum concentration by 4 times (2013). For all analyzed taxa, the strongest correlated variables are the annual sum of daily pollen concentrations (Seasonal Pollen Index) and daily maximum concentration (correlation for birch pollen = 0.92, for grass pollen = 0.88, and for mugwort pollen = 0.91) Conclusions Periods of pollen in the air show certain variation in the analyzed 15-year period. The maximum concentration in the pollen season for the analyzed taxa and the annual sum of daily concentrations of pollen show the highest variability, particularly strongly expressed in the case of birch pollen. There is a linear relationship between the annual sum of daily pollen concentrations and the maximum concentration value as well as the number of days with the threshold concentration for all analyzed taxa. Variability of parameters describing the dynamics of pollen seasons indicates the need to monitor, both by patients with hay fever and physicians, the current information about the concentration of pollen in the air during the pollen season.

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Pollen concentrations of some plants in the air over Olszanica (Bieszczady Niskie Mountains) and Wrocław in the 2008 season

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2010.037 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 63 (2) ◽

pp. 97-103

Author(s):

Małgorzata Malkiewicz ◽

Kamilla Klaczak

Keyword(s):

Pollen Season ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Urban Site ◽

Rural Environment ◽

Pollen Allergens ◽

Pollen Concentrations ◽

Allergenic Activity ◽

Birch Pollen Allergen ◽

Burkard Trap ◽

Pollen Seasons

This paper presents the results of an analysis of pollen season patterns for taxa which show the strongest allergenic activity (alder, birch, grasses, and mugwort) in 2008 in the air over Wrocław and Olszanica. The study was carried out using the volumetric method (Burkard trap). The results show variation in pollen seasons between the analyzed localities. An attempt was made to find out in which of the sites in question - the urban site or the rural one - there was a greater risk of allergens of the selected plants. The results of the present study show that the alder, birch and grass pollen seasons in 2008 started and ended earlier in Wrocław, and maximum pollen concentrations were definitely lower. But the mugwort pollen season started earlier and ended much later in Olszanica, while maximum pollen concentration of this taxon was more than twice lower than in Wrocław. In 2008 in the investigated localities, the highest pollen concentrations of the plants in question occurred in the following months: alder in February, birch in April, grasses in June, while mugwort in August. In 2008 alder and birch pollen allergen risk was comparable in the investigated urban and rural environment. However, grass and mugwort pollen allergens posed a significantly greater threat in the rural environment than in Wrocław.

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Birch (Betula L.) pollen seasons in Cracow in 1991-2008 in relation to meteorological conditions

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2009.028 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 62 (2) ◽

pp. 67-75 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Dorota Myszkowska ◽

Katarzyna Piotrowicz

Keyword(s):

Pollen Season ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Meteorological Conditions ◽

Air Masses ◽

Circulation Types ◽

Atmospheric Fronts ◽

Pollen Seasons ◽

Daily Concentration ◽

Meteorological Elements ◽

The Relationship

The parameters of the birch pollen seasons in Cracow in 1991-2008 were analysed in relation to some meteorological elements and synoptic situations (circulation types, air masses and atmospheric fronts). Two types of the pollen seasons were distinguished - highly dense and less dense. The first type of the season started on the 15th of April (on average), lasted 11-20 days and the maximum daily concentration exceeded 500 pgm-3. The less dense type started generally earlier (the first decade of April), lasted more than 20 days and the peak days were unstable. In this type of the pollen season, two peak days were often observed. The relationship between the type of the season and the meteorological conditions before the season was pointed out. Additionally, the influence of circulation types, types of air masses and atmospheric fronts over south-eastern Poland on a given day on the number of days with a daily concentration > 80 pgm-3 was analysed. The relationship between the pollen season type and meteorological conditions before the season was found, among others, the influence of types of synoptic situations and air masses on the number of days with a concentration of over 80 pgm-3 was established.

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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 course of birch pollen seasons in Sosnowiec (Southern Poland) in 1997–2020 in relation to meteorological conditions

Aerobiologia ◽

10.1007/s10453-021-09734-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Katarzyna Dąbrowska-Zapart ◽

Tadeusz Niedźwiedź

Keyword(s):

Wind Speed ◽

Pollen Season ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Meteorological Conditions ◽

Maximum Temperature ◽

Synoptic Situation ◽

Pollen Concentrations ◽

Pollen Seasons ◽

The Impact

AbstractThe study's main objective was to specify the extent to which weather conditions were related to the course of birch pollen seasons in the years 1997–2020. The impact of atmospheric conditions on the daily concentrations of birch pollen grains, the Annual pollen integral (APIn), and the length of pollen seasons were studied. The dependency between each meteorological condition and various features of the birch pollen season was determined using Spearman’s rho correlation, the Kruskal–Wallis test, and cluster analysis with the k-means method. It has been shown that the duration of sunshine and average air temperature occurring within 14 days preceding the season has the most significant influence on the beginning of a birch pollen season. The value of daily birch pollen concentrations in Sosnowiec showed a statistically significant positive correlation with the duration of sunlight and the average and maximum wind speed. The daily concentration also depended on the synoptic situation: the mass airflow direction, the type of air mass inflow, and the type of weather front. The near-ground temperature influenced the APIn of birch pollen grains during the period of 14 days before the beginning of the season and the meteorological conditions occurring in the summer of the preceding year such as the maximum temperature, duration of sunlight, the maximum and average wind speed, and the relative air humidity. It was concluded that the length of birch pollen seasons decreased year by year.

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Aerobiology of Grass Pollen in the City Atmosphere of Melbourne: Quantitative Analysis of Seasonal and Diurnal Changes

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt9790317 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 317 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

IJ Smart ◽

RB Knox

Keyword(s):

Grass Pollen ◽

Quantitative Data ◽

Pollen Season ◽

Fungal Spores ◽

Diurnal Changes ◽

European Cities ◽

Pollen Concentrations ◽

Pollen Seasons ◽

Pollen Release ◽

The City

Quantitative data on the seasonal and diurnal incidence of grass pollen in the atmosphere of Melbourne have been obtained by using two Burkard spore traps sited 11 km apart. Grass pollen concentrations are compared with pollen of other plants and fungal spores over two pollen seasons, 1975-76 and 1976-77. At the height of the 1975-76 pollen season, grass pollen concentrations were greatest at night, while at the end of the same season the peak occurred in the late afternoon as has been reported for several European cities. The aerobiological patterns are compared with the time of pollen release in the field from plants of ryegrass (Lolium perenne).

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Grass pollen seasons in Poland against a background of the meteorological conditions

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2015.038 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 68 (4) ◽

pp. 357-365 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dorota Myszkowska ◽

Katarzyna Piotrowicz ◽

Monika Ziemianin ◽

Kazimiera Chłopek ◽

Katarzyna Dąbrowska-Zapart ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grass Pollen ◽

Pollen Season ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Meteorological Conditions ◽

Daily Maximum ◽

Temperature And Precipitation ◽

Pollen Concentrations ◽

Poaceae Pollen ◽

Pollen Seasons

The paper refers to the estimation of Poaceae pollen seasons in Poland in selected areas. The aim of the study was to present the long-term variability of the start, end and duration of grass pollen seasons and the seasonal pollen index (SPI) in Poland against a background of the meteorological conditions over pollen seasons. The study was performed in eight Polish cities in 1992–2014 (the common seasons were 2003–2012). Pollen season start was relatively stable in the studied period, the seasons began about the 10th of May, a bit earlier in the south part of Poland. Pollen season ends were more changeable in comparison to the season start and fluctuated from the middle of July to the middle of September. SPI clearly depended on temperature and precipitation in April–August. Daily maximum pollen concentrations were achieved between the end of May and the first decade of July and no evident relationship between this day and weather conditions was found, apart from 2004.

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Intralymphatic Immunotherapy: A 3-year Randomized, Double-blind Study in 72 Patients With Allergic Rhinitis Due to Birch and Grass

10.21203/rs.3.rs-96348/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lars Ahlbeck ◽

Emelie Ahlberg ◽

Janne Björkander ◽

Caroline Aldén ◽

Georgia Papapavlou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Allergic Rhinitis ◽

Grass Pollen ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Double Blind Study ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

Chemokine Production ◽

Intralymphatic Immunotherapy ◽

Pollen Seasons

Abstract Background: There is need for a fast, efficient, and safe way to induce tolerance in patients with severe allergic rhinitis.Methods: Patients with severe birch and timothy allergy were randomized and received three doses of 0.1 ml of birch and 5-grass allergen extracts (10,000 SQ units/ml, ALK-Abelló), or birch and placebo or 5-grass and placebo by ultrasound-guided injections into inguinal lymph nodes at monthly intervals. We have no clean placebo group but the pollen seasons are mostly divided by time. Rhinoconjunctivitis Total Symptom Score, Medication Score and Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire were evaluated before treatment and after each birch and grass pollen season during three subsequent years. Circulating proportions of T helper subsets and allergen-induced cytokine and chemokine production were analyzed by flow cytometry and Luminex.Results: The three groups reported fewer symptoms, lower use of medication and improved quality of life during the birch and grass pollen seasons each year after treatment at an almost similar rate independently of treatment. Mild local pain was the most common adverse event. IgE levels to birch decreased, whereas birch-induced IL-10 secretion increased in all three groups. IgG4 levels to birch and timothy and skin prick test reactivity remained mainly unchanged. Conjunctival challenge tests with timothy extract showed a higher threshold for allergen. In all three groups, regulatory T cell frequencies were increased three years after treatment.Conclusion: Intralymphatic immunotherapy against grass and birch pollen allergy was safe, seemed to be effective, and to be associated with bystander immune modulatory responses.Trial registration: EudraCT (2013-004726-28). Registered 14 January 2014https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search?query=2013-004726-28

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Mugwort pollen season in the air of Poland in 2019

Alergoprofil ◽

10.24292/01.ap.154201119 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 23-28

Author(s):

Małgorzata Puc ◽

Piotr Rapiejko ◽

Agnieszka Lipiec ◽

Małgorzata Malkiewicz ◽

Katarzyna Dąbrowska-Zapart ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pollen Season ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Start Date ◽

Airborne Concentration ◽

Pollen Concentrations ◽

Artemisia Species ◽

Pollen Seasons ◽

June July ◽

Artemisia Pollen ◽

Seasonal Pollen

The Asteraceae family is one of the largest families, comprising 67 genera and 264 species in Poland. However, only a few genera, including Artemisia, are potential allergenic sources. The aim of the study was to compare the mugwort pollen seasons in Bialystok, Bydgoszcz, Sosnowiec, Lublin, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Opole, Olsztyn, Szczecin, Warsaw and Wroclaw in 2019. The investigations were carried out using the volumetric method. Seasonal Pollen Index was estimated as the sum of daily average pollen concentrations in the given season. The mugwort pollen season is mainly observed in June, July and at the beginning of September. In 2019 the pollen season of mugwort started first in Opole, on the June 26th. At the latest, a pollen season ended in Bydgoszcz and Warsaw, at the end of September. The differences of pollen seasons duration were extremely considerable, from 35 to 83 days. The highest airborne concentration of 97 pollen grains/m3 was noted in Lublin on the July 31st. The maximum values of seasonal pollen count in Polish cities occurred between July 28th and August 12th, most often between in late July and early August. The highest mugwort pollen allergen hazard occurred in 2019 in Lublin, Warsaw, Opole and Wroclaw, and was 2–3 times higher than in other cities. The highest variability in the analysed seasons was found in start date, while the lowest in the peak value and SPI value. In the pollen season in 2019, 2 peaks of Artemisia pollen concentrations were observed as a result of the order of flowering of A. vulgaris and A. campestris. Information on the pollination of various Artemisia species will be used to avoid excessive exposure to allergens of these pollen grains.

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