RESUMO
Pollen is one of the primary causes of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in urban centers. In the present study, the concentrations of 39 different pollens in the Santiago de Chile metropolitan area over the period 2009-2013 are characterized. The pollen was monitored daily using Burkard volumetric equipment. The contribution of each type of pollen and the corresponding time trends are evaluated. The concentrations of the pollens are compared with the established threshold levels for the protection of human health. The results show that the total amount of pollen grains originating from trees, grasses, weeds and indeterminate sources throughout the period of the study was 258,496 grains m-3, with an annual average of 51,699 ± 3,906 grains m-3 year-1. The primary source of pollen is Platanus orientalis, which produces 61.8% of the analyzed pollen. Grass pollen is the third primary component of the analyzed pollen, with a contribution of 5.82%. Among the weeds, the presence of Urticacea (3.74%) is remarkable. The pollination pattern of the trees is monophasic, and the grasses have a biphasic pattern. The trends indicate that the total pollen and tree pollen do not present a time trend that is statistically significant throughout the period of the study, whereas the grass pollen and weed pollen concentrations in the environment present a statistically significant decreasing trend. The cause of this decrease is unclear. The pollen load has doubled over the past decade. When the observed concentrations of the pollens were compared with the corresponding threshold levels, the results indicated that over the period of the study, the pollen concentrations were at moderate, high and very high levels for an average of 293 days per year. Systematic counts of the pollen grains are an essential method for diagnosing and treating patients with pollinosis and for developing forestation and urban planning strategies.
Assuntos
Poluentes Atmosféricos/classificação , Alérgenos/classificação , Pólen/classificação , Biodiversidade , Chile , Cidades , Poaceae/fisiologia , Estações do Ano , Árvores/fisiologiaRESUMO
Se realizó un estudio con el objetivo de cuantificar y caracterizar la carga polínica en la ciudad de Temuco, entre los años 2006-2009. Para el muestreo aerobiológico se utilizó un captador volumétrico Burkard Seven Day Volumetric Spore-Trap®. Las muestras obtenidas fueron analizadas semana tras semanas durante el período en estudio. Con los resultados del conteo polínico semanal se determinaron las 11 principales especies de flora urbana anemófilas de Temuco más susceptibles de producir polinosis. Las mayores concentraciones de polen se obtienen entre septiembre y marzo, siendo las especies más importantes: Pastos (Gramineae/Poaceae), Ciprés (Cupressus sp) y Acedera (Rumex sp).
The aim of this study was to quantify and to characterize the amount ofpollen in the atmosphere of the city of Temuco, Chile from 2006 to 2009. Aerobiological sampling was carried out by using a Seven Day Volumetric Spore-Trap Burkard and the samples were analyzed weekly during the period of study. Results: We determined the 11 principal anemophilus species of urban flora in Temuco responsible for pollinosis. The highest concentration ofpollen were present from september till march, being the most important species the Grasses (Gramineae/Poaceae), Cypress (Cupressus sp), and Sorrell (Rumex sp.).
