ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Exposure to airborne pollen from certain plants can cause allergic disease, but allergens can also be found in non-pollen-bearing fractions of ambient air. This may explain why the allergic response in susceptible patients does not always coincide with the presence and magnitude of airborne pollen counts. Plantago pollen is an important cause of pollinosis in northern Mediterranean countries, but it is difficult to determine its incidence in allergies because Plantago pollen appears in the atmosphere at the same time as grass pollen. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between the atmospheric concentration of Pla l 1 aeroallergen and Plantago pollen, and its incidence in a population group. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Pollen was sampled using a Hirst-type volumetric trap (Burkard) and Burkard Cyclone sampler (Burkard) for Pla l 1 allergen. Allergen was determined with a Pla l 1-specific ELISA. Serum-specific IgE levels to several plant allergens were measured with the EAST system. RESULTS: The aerobiological dynamics of Plantago pollen grains and Pla l 1 did not follow the same trend, whereas the sum of Plantago with some other pollen types showed a more similar behaviour. Of the 118 subjects tested, sera from 52 contained IgE to Plantago pollen, but only 5 were monosensitized. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of Pla l 1 in the atmosphere depends not only on Plantago pollen but also on the pollen of other species from the Oleaceae family. Knowledge of the behaviour of allergen Pla l 1 in the atmosphere can help understand better asthma exacerbations associated with aeroallergens.
Subject(s)
Allergens/metabolism , Glycoproteins/metabolism , Plant Proteins/metabolism , Plantago/chemistry , Pollen/chemistry , Adult , Climate , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Humans , Immunoglobulin E/blood , Male , Oleaceae/chemistry , Spain , Weather , Young AdultABSTRACT
A progressive global increase in the burden of allergic diseases has affected the industrialized world over the last half century and has been reported in the literature. The clinical evidence reveals a general increase in both incidence and prevalence of respiratory diseases, such as allergic rhinitis (common hay fever) and asthma. Such phenomena may be related not only to air pollution and changes in lifestyle, but also to an actual increase in airborne quantities of allergenic pollen. Experimental enhancements of carbon dioxide (CO[Formula: see text]) have demonstrated changes in pollen amount and allergenicity, but this has rarely been shown in the wider environment. The present analysis of a continental-scale pollen data set reveals an increasing trend in the yearly amount of airborne pollen for many taxa in Europe, which is more pronounced in urban than semi-rural/rural areas. Climate change may contribute to these changes, however increased temperatures do not appear to be a major influencing factor. Instead, we suggest the anthropogenic rise of atmospheric CO[Formula: see text] levels may be influential.
Subject(s)
Pollen , Allergens/analysis , Climate Change , Europe , GeographyABSTRACT
This paper reports on the behaviour of Alnus glutinosa (alder) pollen grains in the atmosphere of Ponferrada (León, NW Spain) from 1995 to 2006. The study, which sought to determine the effects of various weather-related parameters on Alnus pollen counts, was performed using a volumetric method. The main pollination period for this taxon is January-February. Alder pollen is one of the eight major airborne pollen allergens found in the study area. An analysis was made of the correlation between pollen counts and major weather-related parameters over each period. In general, the strongest positive correlation was with temperature, particularly maximum temperature. During each period, peak pollen counts occurred when the maximum temperature fell within the range 9 degrees C-14 degrees C. Finally, multivariate analysis showed that the parameter exerting the greatest influence was temperature, a finding confirmed by Spearman correlation tests. Principal components analysis suggested that periods with high pollen counts were characterised by high maximum temperature, low rainfall and an absolute humidity of around 6 g m(-3). Use of this type of analysis in conjunction with other methods is essential for obtaining an accurate record of pollen-count variations over a given period.
Subject(s)
Pollen , Allergens/analysis , Alnus , Biometry/methods , Environmental Monitoring , Humans , Pollen/immunology , Principal Component Analysis , Seasons , Spain , WeatherABSTRACT
Objetivo: Este trabalho objetivou apresentar os resultados dos registros polínicos da família Urticaceae, durante o período de 1° de janeiro de 2001 a 31 de dezembro de 2005, e sua relação com os fatores meteorológicos. Método: O monitoramento polínico foi realizado utilizando-se o captador volumétrico de sucção modelo Burkard®, instalado no telhado do Hospital Geral da Universidade de Caxias do Sul, à altura de vinte metros aproximadamente. Resultados: A família Urticaceae apresenta plantas de porte arbustivo e herbáceo, e está representada na cidade de Caxias do Sul por cinco gêneros e sete espécies. Os grãos de pólen de Urticaceae considerados altamente alergênicos são liberados de forma explosiva na atmosfera, devido a seu pequeno tamanho e forma esferoidal. Durante o período de estudo as concentrações máximas registraram-se nos meses de outubro e novembro. O tipo polínico Urticaceae ficou em primeiro lugar no espectro polínico da cidade, representando 25,6% do total de grãos contabilizados. Conclusão: Do ponto de vista clínico, sendo o tipo polínico Urticaceae o mais representativo na atmosfera do município de Caxias do Sul, nos anos de 2001 a 2005, faz-se necessário realizar pesquisas utilizando extratos de pólen de espécies como Boehmeria Jacq e Urera Gaudich.
Subject(s)
Humans , Allergens , Atmosphere , Attention , Boehmeria , Meteorological Concepts , Tropical Zone , Urticaceae , Methods , Pollen , Sampling StudiesABSTRACT
Objetivo: Determinar a dinâmica aeropalinológica da familia Gramineae, na cidade de Caxias do Sul-RS, e proporcionar esta informação aos alergologistas e pessoas afetadas por polinose. Método: Para a obtenção das amostras de pólens aéreos, foi utilizado o captador volumétrico de sucção (modelo Burkard), instalado no telhado do Hospital Geral, a altura aproximada de 20 metros. Este trabalho refere-se às coletas realizadas nos anos de 2001 e 2002. Resultados: O grão de pólen de Gramineae foi encontrado na atmosfera de Caxias do Sul ao longo de todo o ano, apresentando maior incidência na primavera, sendo o mês de novembro de maior concentração polínica desta família. O tipo polínico Gramineae foi o que apresentou maior concentração de pólen na atmosfera, registrando 3269 grãos/m³ em 2001 e 2543 grãos/ m³ em 2002, totalizando 5812 grãos/ m³ durante o período de estudo. Conclusão: Gramineae apresentou os valores mais elevados no espectro polínico desta cidade. Há relação entre a concentração polínica de Gramineae com os dados metereológicos. Os resultados obtidos sobre este tipo polínico no ar atmosférico, bem como a época de incidência, são dados importantes para os especialistas que se ocupam do diagnóstico e tratamento da polinose.
