1
|
Bayr D, Plaza MP, Gilles S, Kolek F, Leier-Wirtz V, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Damialis A. Pollen long-distance transport associated with symptoms in pollen allergics on the German Alps: An old story with a new ending? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 881:163310. [PMID: 37028681 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Pollen grains are among the main causes of respiratory allergies worldwide and hence they are routinely monitored in urban environments. However, their sources can be located farther, outside cities' borders. So, the fundamental question remains as to how frequent longer-range pollen transport incidents are and if they may actually comprise high-risk allergy cases. The aim was to study the pollen exposure on a high-altitude location where only scarce vegetation exists, by biomonitoring airborne pollen and symptoms of grass pollen allergic individuals, locally. The research was carried out in 2016 in the alpine research station UFS, located at 2650 m height, on the Zugspitze Mountain in Bavaria, Germany. Airborne pollen was monitored by use of portable Hirst-type volumetric traps. As a case study, grass pollen-allergic human volunteers were registering their symptoms daily during the peak of the grass pollen season in 2016, during a 2-week stay on Zugspitze, 13-24 June. The possible origin of some pollen types was identified using back trajectory model HYSPLIT for 27 air mass backward trajectories up to 24 h. We found that episodes of high aeroallergen concentrations may occur even at such a high-altitude location. More than 1000 pollen grains m-3 of air were measured on the UFS within only 4 days. It was confirmed that the locally detected bioaerosols originated from at least Switzerland, and up to northwest France, even eastern American Continent, because of frequent long-distance transport. Such far-transported pollen may explain the observed allergic symptoms in sensitized individuals at a remarkable rate of 87 % during the study period. Long-distance transport of aeroallergens can cause allergic symptoms in sensitized individuals, as evidenced in a sparse-vegetation, low-exposure, 'low-risk' alpine environment. We strongly suggest that we need cross-border pollen monitoring to investigate long-distance pollen transport, as its occurrence seems both frequent and clinically relevant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Bayr
- Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Clinic of Augsburg & University of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Helmholtz Center Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Maria P Plaza
- Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Clinic of Augsburg & University of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Helmholtz Center Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Gilles
- Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Clinic of Augsburg & University of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Franziska Kolek
- Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Clinic of Augsburg & University of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Vivien Leier-Wirtz
- Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Clinic of Augsburg & University of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
- Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Clinic of Augsburg & University of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Helmholtz Center Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Augsburg, Germany; Christine Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK-CARE), Davos, Switzerland
| | - Athanasios Damialis
- Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Clinic of Augsburg & University of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany; Terrestrial Ecology and Climate Change, Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Beggs PJ, Clot B, Sofiev M, Johnston FH. Climate change, airborne allergens, and three translational mitigation approaches. EBioMedicine 2023:104478. [PMID: 36805358 PMCID: PMC10363419 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the important adverse impacts of climate change on human health is increases in allergic respiratory diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. This impact is via the effects of increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and air temperature on sources of airborne allergens such as pollen and fungal spores. This review describes these effects and then explores three translational mitigation approaches that may lead to improved health outcomes, with recent examples and developments highlighted. Impacts have already been observed on the seasonality, production and atmospheric concentration, allergenicity, and geographic distribution of airborne allergens, and these are projected to continue into the future. A technological revolution is underway that has the potential to advance patient management by better avoiding associated increased exposures, including automated real-time airborne allergen monitoring, airborne allergen forecasting and modelling, and smartphone apps for mitigating the health impacts of airborne allergens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Beggs
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia.
| | - Bernard Clot
- Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss, 1530 Payerne, Switzerland
| | - Mikhail Sofiev
- Finnish Meteorological Institute, 00560 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Fay H Johnston
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Long T, Ye Z, Tang Y, Shi J, Wen J, Chen C, Huo Q. Comparison of bacterial community structure in PM 2.5 during hazy and non-hazy periods in Guilin, South China. AEROBIOLOGIA 2023; 39:87-103. [PMID: 36568442 PMCID: PMC9762634 DOI: 10.1007/s10453-022-09777-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED In recent years, significant efforts have been made to study changes in the levels of air pollutants at regional and urban scales, and changes in bioaerosols during air pollution events have attracted increasing attention. In this study, the bacterial structure of PM2.5 was analysed under different environmental conditions during hazy and non-hazy periods in Guilin. A total of 32 PM2.5 samples were collected in December 2020 and July 2021, and the microbial community structures were analysed using high-throughput sequencing methods. The results show that air pollution and climate change alter the species distribution and community diversity of bacteria in PM2.5, particularly Sphingomonas and Pseudomonas. The structure of the bacterial community composition is related to diurnal variation, vertical height, and urban area and their interactions with various environmental factors. This is a comprehensive study that characterises the variability of bacteria associated with PM2.5 in a variety of environments, highlighting the impacts of environmental effects on the atmospheric microbial community. The results will contribute to our understanding of haze trends in China, particularly the relationship between bioaerosol communities and the urban environment. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10453-022-09777-0.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tengfa Long
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, 541006 China
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541006 China
| | - Ziwei Ye
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, 541006 China
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541006 China
| | - Yanchun Tang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, 541006 China
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541006 China
| | - Jiaxin Shi
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, 541006 China
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541006 China
| | - Jianhui Wen
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541006 China
- Guilin Ecological Environmental Monitoring Center, Guilin, 541004 China
| | - Chunqiang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, 541006 China
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541006 China
| | - Qiang Huo
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, 541006 China
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541006 China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Pintér E, Kun M, Konderák J, Páll G, Réthy LA. Molecular sensitization patterns of common food-and respiratory allergens in the Hungarian population. Mol Cell Probes 2022; 66:101872. [PMID: 36400113 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2022.101872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently developed Immunoglobulin-E (IgE) based molecular allergy diagnostics provide the ability of identifying allergenic components or ingredients at the molecular level (component-resolved-diagnosis, CRD). Compared to the classical IgE-based allergy diagnostics, molecular technology is providing more sensitive and specific IgE-sensitization patterns. Certain sensitization patterns are characteristic of large geographic regions. There are only few data available on the molecular IgE sensitization patterns in East-Central Europe. This study aims to present further data from this region. METHODS Data of 3993 stored, anonymized molecular ImmunoCap IgE measurements (CRD), performed in Hungary between January-December 2019 from sera of 1288 subjects (mean age: 27 years ±18 years, male/female ratio 0.56) were analyzed retrospectively, in order to get a local distributional pattern of the sensitizing (IgE >0.35 KU/l) molecular allergens. RESULTS The proportion of CRD positive cases was 24.3%. Amongst them, the most prevalent inhalative allergens were Amb a 1 (18%) Art v 1 (8%) in adults and Der p 2 (3%) and Der p 1 (3%) and Amb a 1 (4%) in subjects below 18 years of age. The same for food allergens were Gal d 2 (21%), Bos d 4 (17%), Bos d 5 (11%) in adults and Gal d 2 (38%), Gal d 1 (28%), Bos d 4 (21%), Bos d 5 (13%) and Bos d 8 (7%) in children. The ratio of mono-sensitivities among CRD-positive cases was 37.5%. CONCLUSION Our results provide region-specific patterns of sensitization and molecular allergen spreading for Hungary. The relatively higher abundance of polysensitization's among allergic cases underlines the need for early diagnostic -and preventive measures in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erzsébet Pintér
- Synlab Hungary Ltd., Budapest Diagnostic Center Clinical Chemistry and Immunological Department, 1211, Budapest, Weiss Manfréd út 5-7, Hungary.
| | - Mária Kun
- Synlab Hungary Ltd., Budapest Diagnostic Center Clinical Chemistry and Immunological Department, 1211, Budapest, Weiss Manfréd út 5-7, Hungary.
| | - Judit Konderák
- Synlab Hungary Ltd., Budapest Diagnostic Center Clinical Chemistry and Immunological Department, 1211, Budapest, Weiss Manfréd út 5-7, Hungary.
| | - Gabriella Páll
- Heim Pál National Institute of Pediatrics, 1089, Budapest, Üllői u. 86, Hungary.
| | - Lajos A Réthy
- Heim Pál National Institute of Pediatrics, 1089, Budapest, Üllői u. 86, Hungary; Semmelweis University, Dep. Family Care Methodology, 1085, Budapest, Üllői út 26, Hungary.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Magyar D, Novák R, Udvardy O, Páldy A, Szigeti T, Stjepanović B, Hrga I, Večenaj A, Vucić A, Peroš Pucar D, Šikoparija B, Radišić P, Škorić T, Ščevková J, Simon-Csete E, Nagy M, Leelőssy Á. Unusual early peaks of airborne ragweed (Ambrosia L.) pollen in the Pannonian Biogeographical Region. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2022; 66:2195-2203. [PMID: 36053297 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-022-02348-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Early peaks of airborne ragweed (Ambrosia L.) pollen concentrations were observed at several monitoring stations in Hungary in June 2017 and 2018, one month before the usual start of the pollen season at the end of July. Backward trajectories were calculated to simulate potential sources of pollen collected at different locations in the Pannonian Biogeographical Region. In a collaboration between aerobiological and phenological networks, a nationwide campaign was conducted to collect field data of ragweed blooming. During field surveys, ragweed plants having extremely early blooming were found most abundantly in a rural site near Vaja (North-East Hungary) and other locations in Hungary. Field observations matched with source areas identified by trajectory analyses; i.e., early-flowering ragweed plants were found at some of these locations. Although similar peaks of airborne pollen concentrations were not detected in other years (e.g., 2016, 2019-2021), alarming results suggest the possibility of expanding seasons of ragweed allergy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Magyar
- National Public Health Center, Hungarian Aerobiological Network, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - R Novák
- National Food Chain Safety Office, Directorate of Plant Protection, Soil Conservation and Agri-Environment, Budapest, Hungary
| | - O Udvardy
- National Public Health Center, Hungarian Aerobiological Network, Budapest, Hungary
| | - A Páldy
- National Public Health Center, Hungarian Aerobiological Network, Budapest, Hungary
| | - T Szigeti
- National Public Health Center, Hungarian Aerobiological Network, Budapest, Hungary
| | - B Stjepanović
- Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - I Hrga
- Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - A Večenaj
- Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - A Vucić
- Institute of Public Health Zadar, Zadar, Croatia
| | | | - B Šikoparija
- BioSense Institute - Research Institute for Information Technologies in Biosystems, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - P Radišić
- BioSense Institute - Research Institute for Information Technologies in Biosystems, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - T Škorić
- Public Health Institute, Subotica, Serbia
| | - J Ščevková
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Botany, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - E Simon-Csete
- Department of Plant and Soil Protection, Government Office of Pest County, Budapest, Hungary
| | - M Nagy
- Department of Plant Health, Government Office of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County, Nyíregyháza, Hungary
| | - Á Leelőssy
- National Public Health Center, Hungarian Aerobiological Network, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Meteorology, Eötvös Loránd University, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Grewling Ł, Magyar D, Chłopek K, Grinn-Gofroń A, Gwiazdowska J, Siddiquee A, Ianovici N, Kasprzyk I, Wójcik M, Lafférsová J, Majkowska-Wojciechowska B, Myszkowska D, Rodinkova V, Bortnyk M, Malkiewicz M, Piotrowska-Weryszko K, Sulborska-Różycka A, Rybniček O, Ščevková J, Šikoparija B, Skjøth CA, Smith M, Bogawski P. Bioaerosols on the atmospheric super highway: An example of long distance transport of Alternaria spores from the Pannonian Plain to Poland. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 819:153148. [PMID: 35041944 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Alternaria spores are pathogenic to agricultural crops, and the longest and the most severe sporulation seasons are predominantly recorded in rural areas, e.g. the Pannonian Plain (PP) in South-Central Europe. In Poland (Central Europe), airborne Alternaria spore concentrations peak between July and August. In this study, we test the hypothesis that the PP is the source of Alternaria spores recorded in Poland after the main sporulation season (September-October). Airborne Alternaria spores (2005-2019) were collected using volumetric Hirst spore traps located in 38 locations along the potential pathways of air masses, i.e. from Serbia, Romania and Hungary, through the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ukraine, to Northern Poland. Three potential episodes of Long Distance Transport (LDT) were selected and characterized in detail, including the analysis of Alternaria spore data, back trajectory analysis, dispersal modelling, and description of local weather and mesoscale synoptic conditions. During selected episodes, increases in Alternaria spore concentrations in Poznań were recorded at unusual times that deviated from the typical diurnal pattern, i.e. at night or during morning hours. Alternaria spore concentrations on the PP were very high (>1000 spores/m3) at that time. The presence of non-local Ambrosia pollen, common to the PP, were also observed in the air. Air mass trajectory analysis and dispersal modelling showed that the northwest part of the PP, north of the Transdanubian Mountains, was the potential source area of Alternaria spores. Our results show that Alternaria spores are transported over long distances from the PP to Poland. These spores may markedly increase local exposure to Alternaria spores in the receptor area and pose a risk to both human and plant health. Alternaria spores followed the same atmospheric route as previously described LDT ragweed pollen, revealing the existence of an atmospheric super highway that transports bioaerosols from the south to the north of Europe.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Grewling
- Laboratory of Aerobiology, Department of Systematic and Environmental Botany, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Donat Magyar
- National Public Health Institute, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | | | - Julia Gwiazdowska
- Laboratory of Aerobiology, Department of Systematic and Environmental Botany, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Asad Siddiquee
- Laboratory of Aerobiology, Department of Systematic and Environmental Botany, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Nicoleta Ianovici
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biology, and Geography, West University of Timisoara, Romania
| | - Idalia Kasprzyk
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Magdalena Wójcik
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Janka Lafférsová
- Department of Environmental Biology, Public Health Office, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | | | - Dorota Myszkowska
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Department of Clinical and Environmental Allergology, Kraków, Poland
| | | | - Mykyta Bortnyk
- National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsya, Ukraine; Vasyl' Stus Donetsk National University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine
| | | | | | | | - Ondrej Rybniček
- Paediatric Department, Allergy Unit, Masaryk University and University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Ščevková
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Branko Šikoparija
- BioSense Institute - Research Institute for Information Technologies in Biosystems, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Carsten Ambelas Skjøth
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Worcester, United Kingdom
| | - Matt Smith
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Worcester, United Kingdom
| | - Paweł Bogawski
- Laboratory of Biological Spatial Information, Department of Systematic and Environmental Botany, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Pollen Viability of Fraxinus excelsior in Storage Experiments and Investigations on the Potential Effect of Long-Range Transport. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13040600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Fragmented ash populations due to ash dieback may lead to a limited gene flow and pollination success. Therefore, the viability of ash pollen plays a major role for the survival of the species. The extent to which the long-distance transport of pollen affects pollen viability was investigated with experiments in a climate chamber using ash pollen samples from a seed orchard in Emmendingen, Germany. Furthermore, experiments with a volumetric pollen trap were conducted. A suitable storage temperature for ash pollen was determined by using four viability tests; TTC test, pollen germination, Alexander’s stain and Acetocarmine. An optimization of the germination medium was performed. We found a strong influence of prevailing temperatures on pollen viability, which decreased faster under warmer conditions. At moderate temperatures, viable pollen could still be observed after 28 days. Thus, a possible successful pollination can also be associated to long-range transported pollen. Storage experiments showed that pollen viability could be maintained longer at temperatures of −20 °C and −80 °C than at 4 °C. In particular, the TTC test has proven to be suitable for determining viability. Therefore, properly stored pollen can be used for breeding programs to support the survival of Fraxinus excelsior.
Collapse
|
8
|
Frisk CA, Apangu GP, Petch GM, Adams-Groom B, Skjøth CA. Atmospheric transport reveals grass pollen dispersion distances. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 814:152806. [PMID: 34982985 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Identifying the origin of bioaerosols is of central importance in many biological disciplines, such as human health, agriculture, forestry, aerobiology and conservation. Modelling sources, transportation pathways and sinks can reveal how bioaerosols vary in the atmosphere and their environmental impact. Grass pollen are particularly important due to their widely distributed source areas, relatively high abundance in the atmosphere and high allergenicity. Currently, studies are uncertain regarding sampler representability between distance and sources for grass pollen. Using generalized linear modelling, this study aimed to analyse this relationship further by answering the question of distance-to-source area contribution. Grass pollen concentrations were compared between urban and rural locations, located 6.4 km apart, during two years in Worcestershire, UK. We isolated and refined vegetation areas at 100 m × 100 m using the 2017 CEH Crop Map and conducted atmospheric modelling using HYSPLIT to identify which source areas could contribute pollen. Pollen concentrations were then modelled with source areas and meteorology using generalized linear mixed-models with three temporal variables as random variation. We found that the Seasonal Pollen Integral for grass pollen varied between both years and location, with the urban location having higher levels. Day of year showed higher temporal variation than the diurnal or annual variables. For the urban location, grass source areas within 30 km had positive significant effects in predicting grass pollen concentrations, while source areas within 2-10 km were important for the rural one. The source area differential was likely influenced by an urban-rural gradient that caused differences in the source area contribution. Temperature had positive highly significant effects on both locations while precipitation affected only the rural location. Combining atmospheric modelling, vegetation source maps and generalized linear modelling was found to be a highly accurate tool to identify transportation pathways of bioaerosols in landscape environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carl A Frisk
- National Pollen and Aerobiological Research Unit, School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, WR2 6AJ Worcester, UK.; School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Godfrey P Apangu
- National Pollen and Aerobiological Research Unit, School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, WR2 6AJ Worcester, UK.; Department of Biointeractions & Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, West Common, AL5 2JQ Harpenden, UK
| | - Geoffrey M Petch
- National Pollen and Aerobiological Research Unit, School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, WR2 6AJ Worcester, UK
| | - Beverley Adams-Groom
- National Pollen and Aerobiological Research Unit, School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, WR2 6AJ Worcester, UK
| | - Carsten A Skjøth
- National Pollen and Aerobiological Research Unit, School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, WR2 6AJ Worcester, UK
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Polling M, Sin M, de Weger LA, Speksnijder AGCL, Koenders MJF, de Boer H, Gravendeel B. DNA metabarcoding using nrITS2 provides highly qualitative and quantitative results for airborne pollen monitoring. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:150468. [PMID: 34583071 PMCID: PMC8651626 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Airborne pollen monitoring is of global socio-economic importance as it provides information on presence and prevalence of allergenic pollen in ambient air. Traditionally, this task has been performed by microscopic investigation, but novel techniques are being developed to automate this process. Among these, DNA metabarcoding has the highest potential of increasing the taxonomic resolution, but uncertainty exists about whether the results can be used to quantify pollen abundance. In this study, it is shown that DNA metabarcoding using trnL and nrITS2 provides highly improved taxonomic resolution for pollen from aerobiological samples from the Netherlands. A total of 168 species from 143 genera and 56 plant families were detected, while using a microscope only 23 genera and 22 plant families were identified. NrITS2 produced almost double the number of OTUs and a much higher percentage of identifications to species level (80.1%) than trnL (27.6%). Furthermore, regressing relative read abundances against the relative abundances of microscopically obtained pollen concentrations showed a better correlation for nrITS2 (R2 = 0.821) than for trnL (R2 = 0.620). Using three target taxa commonly encountered in early spring and fall in the Netherlands (Alnus sp., Cupressaceae/Taxaceae and Urticaceae) the nrITS2 results showed that all three taxa were dominated by one or two species (Alnus glutinosa/incana, Taxus baccata and Urtica dioica). Highly allergenic as well as artificial hybrid species were found using nrITS2 that could not be identified using trnL or microscopic investigation (Alnus × spaethii, Cupressus arizonica, Parietaria spp.). Furthermore, perMANOVA analysis indicated spatiotemporal patterns in airborne pollen trends that could be more clearly distinguished for all taxa using nrITS2 rather than trnL. All results indicate that nrITS2 should be the preferred marker of choice for molecular airborne pollen monitoring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Polling
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Norway.
| | - Melati Sin
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Letty A de Weger
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Arjen G C L Speksnijder
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Leiden University of Applied Sciences, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Hugo de Boer
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Barbara Gravendeel
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Albertini R, Veronesi L, Colucci ME, Pasquarella C. The scenario of the studies on ragweed (Ambrosia Sp.) and related issues from its beginning to today: a useful tool for future goals in a one health approach. ACTA BIO-MEDICA : ATENEI PARMENSIS 2022; 93:e2022324. [PMID: 36300205 PMCID: PMC9686166 DOI: 10.23750/abm.v93i5.13771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Airborne ragweed pollen is one of the agents of respiratory allergies in our changing environment. The monitoring of pollen is essential to manage pollen allergy and to improve its forecasting methods. Moreover, the control and fight against ragweed plants is important. Aim of this study is to understand the scenario of the studies on ragweed over time. METHODS We searched PubMed and Scopus for articles published until July 2022 reporting the words "ragweed". Articles written in all languages were included. RESULTS Scopus was the database with the highest number of published papers. Among the papers on ragweed, the papers citing the word "allergy" were 59.4% in PubMed and 37,6% in Scopus. The subject areas more addressed were medicine, immunology, genetics/molecular biology, but agricultural/biological sciences too and, interestingly, other subjects like social sciences, art, humanistic, etc.). Among the top 40 institutions supporting research, 8 were European, 4 Asian, 1 Russian and 21 were American, the other 6 were pharmaceutical companies. CONCLUSIONS This study shows a picture of the ragweed studies and some related subjects over time. A gap between the number of biomedical and not biomedical issues was evident. There is a need for greater involvement of institutions into support of knowledge and fight ragweed. The results will provide a useful tool to identify future goals in a global approach of ragweed related issues.
Collapse
|
11
|
Negral L, Moreno-Grau S, Galera MD, Elvira-Rendueles B, Costa-Gómez I, Aznar F, Pérez-Badia R, Moreno JM. The effects of continentality, marine nature and the recirculation of air masses on pollen concentration: Olea in a Mediterranean coastal enclave. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 790:147999. [PMID: 34090169 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Olea pollen concentrations have been studied in relation to the typology of air masses, pollen grain sources and marine nature during advections in a coastal enclave in the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Since Spain is the world's leading olive producer, and olive growing extends throughout the Mediterranean basin, this location is ideal for the study of long-distance transport events (LTD) during the main pollen season (MPS). The air masses were classified using the calculation of 48-h back trajectories at 250, 500 and 750 m above ground level using the HYSPLIT model. After that, the frequency of LDT events from Africa and Europe was found to be 8.7% of the MPS days. In contrast, regional air masses were found in 38.6% of the MPS days. This was reflected in pollen concentrations, with significantly higher concentrations (p-value <0.05) on days with regional air masses compared to days with European air masses. Regarding the source areas, the importance of nearby sources with intense olive cultivation was confirmed (i.e., Andalusia). This proximity was relevant beyond the attenuations observed when the advections acquired a marine nature as the air mass back trajectories moved over the sea (p-value <0.001). The review of air mass typologies, source areas and pollen concentrations resulted in establishing peak dates and the detection of LDT associated with these peak dates. Distortions in the typical path of each air mass explained alterations in pollen concentrations on consecutive days. The recirculation and loops of the air mass back trajectories varied the pollen load that every type of air mass could originally contain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Negral
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Spain.
| | - S Moreno-Grau
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Spain.
| | - M D Galera
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Technical University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Spain.
| | - B Elvira-Rendueles
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Spain.
| | - I Costa-Gómez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Spain.
| | - F Aznar
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Spain.
| | - R Pérez-Badia
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain.
| | - J M Moreno
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ecosystem Services and Disservices of Vegetation in Recreational Urban Blue-Green Spaces—Some Recommendations for Greenery Shaping. FORESTS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/f12081077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Urban water bodies are an important asset in terms of climate change. The accompanying vegetation is an integral part of the waterside space system and a source of ecosystem services and disservices. The composition of greenery in waterside spaces should therefore be preceded by detailed research. This research would be the basis for the development of recommendations for enhancement of the positive impact of vegetation on humans and minimisation of its negative effect. The aim of the study was to identify ecosystem services and disservices of vegetation in the four most important waterside recreation spaces in the city of Rzeszów, Poland, and to develop plant composition guidelines. A detailed inventory of vegetation and aerobiological monitoring of the presence of airborne allergenic pollen grains and fungal spores were carried out. Next, the ecosystem services and disservices of the vegetation were determined based on literature data and on our expert judgement. Additionally, a counting of the number of visitors to waterside areas was conducted. All these steps were used to develop recommendations for shaping the vegetation of study areas. The results of the investigations show that the boulevards along the artificial lake function completely differently than other investigated places as the area resembles an urban park, and the water is not the main attraction in this space. The vegetation of the boulevards and the nearby gravel-pit bathing area has mostly a spontaneous character and offers the widest range of ecosystem services and disservices. The management of the vegetation should focus on its health-enhancing values. The vegetation growing near the outdoor swimming pools has been designed by man. Nevertheless, it requires recomposing and is targeted specifically at the enhancement of the visual attractiveness. Additionally, there is a need for planting compact deciduous trees that will provide shade at the multi-media fountain.
Collapse
|
13
|
Mimić G, Podraščanin Z, Lugonja P, Šikoparija B. The influence of source maps on SILAM performance in modeling ragweed pollen concentrations in the area of a major European source. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2021; 65:917-928. [PMID: 33474614 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-021-02075-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Pannonian Plain is one of the centers of ragweed distribution in Europe. The province of Vojvodina (Serbia) is located on the southern part of the Pannonian Plain, representing a highly infested region. In this study, we have used the SILAM atmospheric dispersion model to simulate ragweed pollen concentrations during the season 2016 in the Vojvodina region. SILAM was tested with three different source maps of ragweed distribution in Vojvodina only: (1) map used in operational SILAM, which was calibrated with the SILAM model and observations, (2) map derived using "top-down" approach with land cover data inventory, and (3) map obtained with "top-down" approach using crop classification from the satellite data. Additionally, the sensitivity studies were done using two modified maps to study the effect of the source strength and long-range transport. Results of simulations were validated with the bi-hourly, daily, and seasonal pollen concentrations measured at five stations in Vojvodina. Overall Pearson correlation coefficients were 0.51 (Map 1), 0.50 (Map 2), and 0.42 (Map 3), while debiased scores were 232.95 pollen m-3 (Map 1), 245.59 pollen m-3 (Map 2), and 258.24 pollen m-3 (Map 3). Even though Vojvodina is in the area of a major European source, regional transport of ragweed pollen from a few hundred kilometers of the surrounding area was important in explaining the presence of pollen in the afternoon hours, although it could not completely explain total pollen quantity. The results confirmed that it is vital to calibrate source maps using atmospheric dispersion model with the observed pollen data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gordan Mimić
- BioSense Institute, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
| | - Zorica Podraščanin
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Physics, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Predrag Lugonja
- BioSense Institute, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Branko Šikoparija
- BioSense Institute, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
- Faculty of Sciences, Laboratory for palynology, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Bai W, Li Y, Xie W, Ma T, Hou J, Zeng X. Vertical variations in the concentration and community structure of airborne microbes in PM 2.5. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 760:143396. [PMID: 33190878 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
With the recent rapid development of urbanization, severe air pollution events frequently occur in China. Subsequently, variations of bioaerosols during air pollution events have attracted increasing attention in recent years. However, most published studies on bioaerosols mainly focus on the characteristics of airborne bacteria and fungi at a certain height near the ground surface. The vertical variations in microbial aerosols at different heights are not well understood. In this study, PM2.5 samples at three heights (1.5 m, 100 m and 229.5 m) were collected from September 2019 to January 2020 in Xi'an, China. The samples were then analyzed by a fluorescence staining and high-throughput sequencing to explore the vertical variations in the concentration and community structure of the airborne bacteria. The results show that the microbial concentration in PM2.5 decreased with increasing height on polluted days, while there was no significant difference at different heights on non-polluted days (p > 0.05). The bacterial community structures were similar at different heights on polluted days; however, on non-polluted days, the bacterial community structure at 229.5 m was significantly different from that at the other heights. Importantly, meteorological factors had more significant effects on the bacterial community at 229.5 m than at 1.5 m and 100 m. The present results can improve the understanding of vertical distribution of bioaerosols and their diffusion process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenyan Bai
- School of Water and Environment, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Yanpeng Li
- School of Water and Environment, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China; Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecology Effects in Arid Region, Ministry of Education, Xi'an 710054, China; State Key Laboratory of Green Building in Western China, Xian University of Architecture & Technology, China.
| | - Wenwen Xie
- School of Water and Environment, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Tianfeng Ma
- School of Water and Environment, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Junli Hou
- School of Water and Environment, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Xuelin Zeng
- School of Water and Environment, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Menzel A, Ghasemifard H, Yuan Y, Estrella N. A First Pre-season Pollen Transport Climatology to Bavaria, Germany. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2021; 2:627863. [PMID: 35386987 PMCID: PMC8974717 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2021.627863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate impacts on the pollen season are well-described however less is known on how frequently atmospheric transport influences the start of the pollen season. Based on long-term phenological flowering and airborne pollen data (1987–2017) for six stations and seven taxa across Bavaria, Germany, we studied changes in the pollen season, compared pollen and flowering season start dates to determine pollen sources, and analyzed the likelihood of pollen transport by HYSPLIT back trajectories. Species advanced their pollen season more in early spring (e.g., Corylus and Alnus by up to 2 days yr−1) than in mid spring (Betula, Fraxinus, Pinus); Poaceae and Artemisia exhibited mixed trends in summer. Annual pollen sums mainly increased for Corylus and decreased for Poaceae and Artemisia. Start of pollen season trends largely deviated from flowering trends, especially for Corylus and Alnus. Transport phenomena, which rely on comparisons between flowering and pollen dates, were determined for 2005–2015 at three stations. Pre-season pollen was a common phenomenon: airborne pollen was predominantly observed earlier than flowering (median 17 days) and in general, in 63% of the cases (except for Artemisia and Poaceae, and the alpine location) the pollen sources were non-local (transported). In 54% (35%) of these cases, back trajectories confirmed (partly confirmed) the pre-season transport, only in 11% of the cases transport modeling failed to explain the records. Even within the main pollen season, 70% of pollen season start dates were linked to transport. At the alpine station, non-local pollen sources (both from outside Bavaria as well as Bavarian lowlands) predominated, in only 13% of these cases transport could not be confirmed by back trajectories. This prominent role of pollen transport has important implications for the length, the timing, and the severity of the allergenic pollen season, indicating only a weak dependency on flowering of local pollen sources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annette Menzel
- Department of Life Science Systems, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Freising, Germany
- Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Garching, Germany
| | - Homa Ghasemifard
- Department of Life Science Systems, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Freising, Germany
| | - Ye Yuan
- Department of Life Science Systems, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Freising, Germany
- *Correspondence: Ye Yuan
| | - Nicole Estrella
- Department of Life Science Systems, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Freising, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
The Impact of Climate Change on Pollen Season and Allergic Sensitization to Pollens. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 2020; 41:97-109. [PMID: 33228876 DOI: 10.1016/j.iac.2020.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Pollens are a major cause of seasonal allergic diseases. Weather may alter the production of pollens. Increased atmospheric temperatures lead to earlier pollination of many plants and longer duration of pollination, resulting in extended pollen seasons, with early spring or late winter. Longer pollen seasons increase duration of exposure, resulting in more sensitization, and higher pollen concentrations may lead to more severe symptoms. Climate changes in contact to pollens may affect both allergic sensitization and symptom prevalence with severity. The future consequences of climate change, however, are speculative, because the influence on humans, is complex.
Collapse
|
17
|
Stępalska D, Myszkowska D, Piotrowicz K, Kluska K, Chłopek K, Grewling Ł, Lafférsová J, Majkowska-Wojciechowska B, Malkiewicz M, Piotrowska-Weryszko K, Puc M, Rodinkova V, Rybníček O, Ščevková J, Voloshchuk K. High Ambrosia pollen concentrations in Poland respecting the long distance transport (LDT). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 736:139615. [PMID: 32474278 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
High Ambrosia pollen concentrations in Poland rather rarely come from the local sources. The aim of this study was to define the temporal and spatial differences of the high Ambrosia pollen concentrations by creating models for the pollen transport from the distant sources. This study was thought to determine the direction of the air masses inflow into Poland, carrying Ambrosia pollen, from areas of the bordering countries with the pollen concentrations higher than iSTOTEN_n Poland. Pollen and meteorological datasets at 8 monitoring sites in Poland, and daily pollen concentrations at 11 sites in the Czech Republic, 5 sites in Slovakia and 3 sites in Ukraine were analysed recently. Days with concentrations ≥10 Pollen/m3 and concurrent meteorological situations were analysed in great deal. The HYSPLIT model was applied to compute backward trajectories up to 4 days backward (96 h) and at three altitudes: 20, 500 and 1000 m above ground level (a.g.l.). High pollen concentrations occur most frequently when the air masses inflow into Poland from southerly (S, SE, SW, 44%) and easterly (E, 6%) directions and in no advection situations (25%). In years with the highest frequency of days over 10 Pollen/m3, the prevailing directions of the pollen influx into Poland were from the South (2004-2006, 2008, 2011) but in one year (2014) from the East. Trajectories for the studied period show that air masses come most frequently from Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Sometimes, the Ambrosia pollen transport happens from Ukraine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danuta Stępalska
- Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University, Kopernika 27, 31-531 Kraków, Poland
| | - Dorota Myszkowska
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Department of Clinical and Environmental Allergology, Śniadeckich 10, 31-531 Kraków, Kraków, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Piotrowicz
- Department of Climatology, Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-367 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Kluska
- Department of Environmental Monitoring, University of Rzeszów, Zelwerowicza 4, 35-601 Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Kazimiera Chłopek
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Silesia, Będzińska, 60 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland.
| | - Łukasz Grewling
- Laboratory of Aerobiology, Department of Systematic and Environmental Botany, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
| | - Janka Lafférsová
- Department of Environmental Biology, Public Health Office, Cesta k/nemocnici 25, 975-56 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | | | - Małgorzata Malkiewicz
- Department of Stratigraphical Geology, Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Wrocław.
| | - Krystyna Piotrowska-Weryszko
- Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 15, 20-950 Lublin, Poland.
| | - Małgorzata Puc
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Szczecin, Felczaka 3c, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland.
| | - Victoria Rodinkova
- National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, 56, Pirogov Street, Vinnytsia 21018, Ukraine
| | - Ondřej Rybníček
- Paediatric Department, Allergy Unit, Masaryk University and University Hospital Brno, Jihlavska 20, CZ-625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Ščevková
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Révová 39, 811 02 Bratislava 1, Slovakia.
| | - Kateryna Voloshchuk
- Department of Botany, Biological Faculty Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Kyryla Mefodiya Street, 8, Lviv, 79005, Ukraine
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Zhang L, Qiao L, Lan J, Yan Y, Wang L. Three-years monitoring of PM 2.5 and scattering coefficients in Shanghai, China. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 253:126613. [PMID: 32464765 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The absorption and scattering of aerosols are critical factors that influence in global climate and visibility degradation. From January 2013 to December 2015, aerosol scattering coefficients, PM2.5, and meteorological parameters were continuously measured at a monitoring site in Shanghai, China. The annual means of scattering coefficients were 312.3, 232.1, and 261.9 Mm-1 for the years 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively. The corresponding values for PM2.5 were 61.6, 51.6, and 52.9 μg/m3. Compared with the average scattering coefficient of the year 2013, those of 2014 and 2015decreased by 26% and 16%, respectively. Furthermore, the annual average PM2.5 decreased by 16% and 14% in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Although this study concluded that PM2.5 was generally correlated with scattering coefficients during the entire measurement period, the decrease in the former was much less than the latter. On this basis, ultrafine particles may decrease significantly because they cause aerosol scattering. This finding should be investigated further in the future. The inter-annual meteorological changes affected PM2.5 and scattering coefficient inter-annual variations. In the northwest and southwest direction, the seasonal and diurnal variations of aerosol scattering coefficients showed larger values when the wind speeds were about 3-5 m/s. The serious pollution in the northwest direction were mainly due to long-distance transport of pollutants during winter, whereas those in the southwest direction were attributed to local emission. The westerly wind frequency is the crucial factor influencing local pollution transport significantly. Backward trajectory analysis indicated that the air pollution in Shanghai in 2013-2015 is attributed to long-distance transport and primarily affected by the air mass from northwest direction. Observations on long-term aerosol optical properties on the basis of in-situ measurements can help thoroughly understand the radiative forcing characteristics of aerosol.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linyuan Zhang
- School of Resource & Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Liping Qiao
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Cause and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Jian Lan
- The 711 Research Institute of CSIC, Shanghai, 201108, China
| | - Ying Yan
- School of Resource & Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
| | - Lina Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China; Shanghai Institute of Eco-Chongming, Shanghai, 200062, China.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Grewling Ł, Bogawski P, Kryza M, Magyar D, Šikoparija B, Skjøth CA, Udvardy O, Werner M, Smith M. Concomitant occurrence of anthropogenic air pollutants, mineral dust and fungal spores during long-distance transport of ragweed pollen. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 254:112948. [PMID: 31377333 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.07.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Large-scale synoptic conditions are able to transport considerable amounts of airborne particles over entire continents by creating substantial air mass movement. This phenomenon is observed in Europe in relation to highly allergenic ragweed (Ambrosia L.) pollen grains that are transported from populations in Central Europe (mainly the Pannonian Plain and Balkans) to the North. The path taken by atmospheric ragweed pollen often passes through the highly industrialised mining region of Silesia in Southern Poland, considered to be one of the most polluted areas in the EU. It is hypothesized that chemical air pollutants released over Silesia could become mixed with biological material and be transported to less polluted regions further North. We analysed levels of air pollution during episodes of long-distance transport (LDT) of ragweed pollen to Poland. Results show that, concomitantly with pollen, the concentration of air pollutants with potential health-risk, i.e. SO2, and PM10, have also significantly increased (by 104% and 37%, respectively) in the receptor area (Western Poland). Chemical transport modelling (EMEP) and air mass back-trajectory analysis (HYSPLIT) showed that potential sources of PM10 include Silesia, as well as mineral dust from the Ukrainian steppe and the Sahara Desert. In addition, atmospheric concentrations of other allergenic biological particles, i.e. Alternaria Nees ex Fr. spores, also increased markedly (by 115%) during LDT episodes. We suggest that the LDT episodes of ragweed pollen over Europe are not a "one-component" phenomenon, but are often related to elevated levels of chemical air pollutants and other biotic and abiotic components (fungal spores and desert dust).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Grewling
- Laboratory of Aeropalynology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-489 Poznań, Poland.
| | - Paweł Bogawski
- Laboratory of Biological Spatial Information, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-489 Poznań, Poland
| | - Maciej Kryza
- Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Donat Magyar
- Department of Air Hygiene and Aerobiology, National Public Health Institute, Hungary
| | - Branko Šikoparija
- BioSense Institute - Research Institute for Information Technologies in Biosystems, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Carsten Ambelas Skjøth
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, WR2 6AJ, Worcester, United Kingdom
| | - Orsolya Udvardy
- Department of Air Hygiene and Aerobiology, National Public Health Institute, Hungary
| | - Małgorzata Werner
- Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Matt Smith
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, WR2 6AJ, Worcester, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Skjøth CA, Sun Y, Karrer G, Sikoparija B, Smith M, Schaffner U, Müller-Schärer H. Predicting abundances of invasive ragweed across Europe using a "top-down" approach. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 686:212-222. [PMID: 31176820 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) is a widely distributed and harmful invasive plant that is an important source of highly allergenic pollen grains and a prominent crop weed. As a result, ragweed causes huge costs to both human health and agriculture in affected areas. Efficient mitigation requires accurate mapping of ragweed densities that, until now, has not been achieved accurately for the whole of Europe. Here we provide two inventories of common ragweed abundances with grid resolutions of 1 km and 10 km. These "top-down" inventories integrate pollen data from 349 stations in Europe with habitat and landscape management information, derived from land cover data and expert knowledge. This allows us to cover areas where surface observations are missing. Model results were validated using "bottom-up" data of common ragweed in Austria and Serbia. Results show high agreement between the two analytical methods. The inventory shows that areas with the lowest ragweed abundances are found in Northern and Southern European countries and the highest abundances are in parts of Russia, parts of Ukraine and the Pannonian Plain. Smaller hotspots are found in Northern Italy, the Rhône Valley in France and in Turkey. The top-down approach is based on a new approach that allows for cross-continental studies and is applicable to other anemophilous species. Due to its simplicity, it can be used to investigate such species that are difficult and costly to identify at larger scales using traditional vegetation surveys or remote sensing. The final inventory is open source and available as a georeferenced tif file, allowing for multiple usages, reducing costs for health services and agriculture through well-targeted management interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Ambelas Skjøth
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, WR2 6AJ Worcester, United Kingdom.
| | - Yan Sun
- Department of Biology/Ecology & Evolution, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Gerhard Karrer
- Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Branko Sikoparija
- BioSense Institute - Research Institute for Information Technologies in Biosystems, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Matt Smith
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, WR2 6AJ Worcester, United Kingdom
| | - Urs Schaffner
- Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International, Rue des Grillons 1, CH-2800 Delémont, Switzerland
| | - Heinz Müller-Schärer
- Department of Biology/Ecology & Evolution, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Biedermann T, Winther L, Till SJ, Panzner P, Knulst A, Valovirta E. Birch pollen allergy in Europe. Allergy 2019; 74:1237-1248. [PMID: 30829410 DOI: 10.1111/all.13758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Birch and other related trees of the families Betulaceae and Fagaceae (alder, hazel, oak, hornbeam, chestnut, and beech) constitute the birch homologous group. This grouping is primarily based on the extensive IgE cross-reactivity of allergen homologs to the major birch allergen Bet v 1. Birch pollen is the most dominant tree pollen in Northern and Central Europe and is a major cause of allergic rhinitis and, possibly, asthma symptoms. Over the last few decades, levels of birch pollen have risen and the period of exposure has increased due to climate changes. Subsequently, the prevalence of birch pollen sensitization has also increased. The cross-reactivity and sequential pollen seasons within the birch homologous group create a prolonged symptomatic allergy period beyond birch pollen alone. Furthermore, many plant food allergens contain homologs to Bet v 1, meaning that the majority of patients with birch pollen allergy suffer from secondary pollen food syndrome (PFS). As a result, the negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients allergic to birch pollen is significant. The purpose of this manuscript was to narratively review topics of interest such as taxonomy, cross-reactivity, prevalence, clinical relevance, PFS, and HRQoL with regard to birch pollen allergy from a European perspective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T. Biedermann
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology Technical University of Munich Munich Germany
| | - L. Winther
- Allergy Clinic Department of Dermato‐Allergology Gentofte Hospital Copenhagen Denmark
| | - S. J. Till
- Kings College London Guy's Hospital London UK
| | - P. Panzner
- Department of Immunology and Allergology Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen Charles University Prague Czech Republic
| | - A. Knulst
- Department of Dermatology/Allergology University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht University Utrecht the Netherlands
| | - E. Valovirta
- Department of Lung Diseases and Clinical Allergology University of Turku and Allergy Clinic Terveystalo, Turku Finland
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Müller-Schärer H, Sun Y, Chauvel B, Karrer G, Kazinczi G, Kudsk P, Oude AL, Schaffner U, Skjoth C, Smith M, Vurro M, de Weger L, Lommen S. Cross-fertilizing weed science and plant invasion science to improve efficient management: A European challenge. Basic Appl Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2018.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
|
23
|
Chen KW, Marusciac L, Tamas PT, Valenta R, Panaitescu C. Ragweed Pollen Allergy: Burden, Characteristics, and Management of an Imported Allergen Source in Europe. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2018; 176:163-180. [PMID: 29788026 DOI: 10.1159/000487997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Ambrosia artemisiifolia, also known as common or short ragweed, is an invasive annual flowering herbaceous plant that has its origin in North America. Nowadays, ragweed can be found in many areas worldwide. Ragweed pollen is known for its high potential to cause type I allergic reactions in late summer and autumn and represents a major health problem in America and several countries in Europe. Climate change and urbanization, as well as long distance transport capacity, enhance the spread of ragweed pollen. Therefore ragweed is becoming domestic in non-invaded areas which in turn will increase the sensitization rate. So far 11 ragweed allergens have been described and, according to IgE reactivity, Amb a 1 and Amb a 11 seem to be major allergens. Sensitization rates of the other allergens vary between 10 and 50%. Most of the allergens have already been recombinantly produced, but most of them have not been characterized regarding their allergenic activity, therefore no conclusion on the clinical relevance of all the allergens can be made, which is important and necessary for an accurate diagnosis. Pharmacotherapy is the most common treatment for ragweed pollen allergy but fails to impact on the course of allergy. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is the only causative and disease-modifying treatment of allergy with long-lasting effects, but currently it is based on the administration of ragweed pollen extract or Amb a 1 only. In order to improve ragweed pollen AIT, new strategies are required with higher efficacy and safety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kuan-Wei Chen
- OncoGen Center, Pius Brinzeu County Clinical Emergency Hospital, Timisoara, Romania.,Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Laura Marusciac
- OncoGen Center, Pius Brinzeu County Clinical Emergency Hospital, Timisoara, Romania.,Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Paul Tudor Tamas
- OncoGen Center, Pius Brinzeu County Clinical Emergency Hospital, Timisoara, Romania.,Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Rudolf Valenta
- Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Carmen Panaitescu
- OncoGen Center, Pius Brinzeu County Clinical Emergency Hospital, Timisoara, Romania.,Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
McInnes RN, Hemming D, Burgess P, Lyndsay D, Osborne NJ, Skjøth CA, Thomas S, Vardoulakis S. Mapping allergenic pollen vegetation in UK to study environmental exposure and human health. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 599-600:483-499. [PMID: 28482306 PMCID: PMC5593151 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Revised: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Allergenic pollen is produced by the flowers of a number of trees, grasses and weeds found throughout the UK. Exposure to such pollen grains can exacerbate pollen-related asthma and allergenic conditions such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Maps showing the location of these allergenic taxa have many applications: they can be used to provide advice on risk assessments; combined with health data to inform research on health impacts such as respiratory hospital admissions; combined with weather data to improve pollen forecasting systems; or as inputs to pollen emission models. In this study we present 1km resolution maps of 12 taxa of trees, grass and weeds found in the UK. We have selected the main species recorded by the UK pollen network. The taxa mapped in this study were: Alnus (alder), Fraxinus (ash), Betula (birch), Corylus (hazel), Quercus (oak), Pinus (pine) and Salix (willow), Poaceae (grass), Artemisia (mugwort), Plantago (plantain), Rumex (dock, sorrels) and Urtica (nettle). We also focus on one high population centre and present maps showing local level detail around the city of London. Our results show the different geographical distributions of the 12 taxa of trees, weeds and grass, which can be used to study plants in the UK associated with allergy and allergic asthma. These maps have been produced in order to study environmental exposure and human health, although there are many possible applications. This novel method not only provides maps of many different plant types, but also at high resolution across regions of the UK, and we uniquely present 12 key plant taxa using a consistent methodology. To consider the impact on human health due to exposure of the pollen grains, it is important to consider the timing of pollen release, and its dispersal, as well as the effect on air quality, which is also discussed here.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel N McInnes
- Met Office Hadley Centre, FitzRoy Road, Exeter, EX1 3PB, UK; European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro TR1 3HD, UK.
| | - Deborah Hemming
- Met Office Hadley Centre, FitzRoy Road, Exeter, EX1 3PB, UK; Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Peter Burgess
- Devon Wildlife Trust, Cricklepit Mill, Commercial Road, Exeter, EX2 4AB, UK
| | - Donna Lyndsay
- Bluesky International Limited, Unit 3, Jackson Street, Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 3NR, UK
| | - Nicholas J Osborne
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia; European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro TR1 3HD, UK
| | - Carsten Ambelas Skjøth
- National Pollen and Aerobiological Research Unit, Institute of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, WR2 6AJ, UK
| | - Sam Thomas
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Penglais, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Sotiris Vardoulakis
- Environmental Change Department, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Chilton, Oxon OX11 0RQ,UK; European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro TR1 3HD, UK
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Müller-Germann I, Pickersgill DA, Paulsen H, Alberternst B, Pöschl U, Fröhlich-Nowoisky J, Després VR. Allergenic Asteraceae in air particulate matter: quantitative DNA analysis of mugwort and ragweed. AEROBIOLOGIA 2017; 33:493-506. [PMID: 29167600 PMCID: PMC5674138 DOI: 10.1007/s10453-017-9485-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) and ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) are highly allergenic Asteraceae. They often cause pollen allergies in late summer and fall. While mugwort is native to Europe, ragweed reached Europe as a neophyte from North America about 150 years ago and continued spreading ever since. To understand possible relationships between the spread of ragweed, its abundance in air, and to judge possible health risks for the public, we quantified ragweed DNA in inhalable fine as well as in coarse air particulate matter. Mugwort was chosen for comparison, as it is closely related to ragweed and grows in similar, though mainly not identical, habitats but is native to Germany. The DNA quantification was performed on atmospheric aerosol samples collected over a period of 5 years in central Europe. The DNA concentrations were highest during the characteristic pollination periods but varied greatly between different years. In the inhalable fine particle fraction, ragweed exceeds the mugwort DNA concentration fivefold, while the coarse particle fraction, bearing intact pollen grains, contains more mugwort than ragweed DNA. The higher allergenic potential of ragweed might be linked to the humidity or long-range transport-induced bursting of ragweed pollen into smaller allergenic particles, which may reach the lower airways and cause more intense allergic reactions. Airborne ragweed DNA was detected also outside the local pollination periods, which can be explained by atmospheric long-range transport. Back-trajectory analyses indicate that the air masses containing ragweed DNA during winter had originated in regions with milder climate and large ragweed populations (Southern France, Carpathian Basin).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I. Müller-Germann
- Biogeochemistry and Multiphase Chemistry Departments, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Geosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Joh.-Joachim-Becher-Weg 21, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - D. A. Pickersgill
- Biogeochemistry and Multiphase Chemistry Departments, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Joh.-von-Müller-Weg 6, 55099 Mainz, Germany
| | - H. Paulsen
- Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Joh.-von-Müller-Weg 6, 55099 Mainz, Germany
| | - B. Alberternst
- Working Group Biodiversity and Landscape Ecology, Hinter’m alten Ort 9, 61169 Friedberg, Germany
| | - U. Pöschl
- Biogeochemistry and Multiphase Chemistry Departments, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - J. Fröhlich-Nowoisky
- Biogeochemistry and Multiphase Chemistry Departments, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - V. R. Després
- Biogeochemistry and Multiphase Chemistry Departments, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Joh.-von-Müller-Weg 6, 55099 Mainz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Turkalj M, Banic I, Anzic SA. A review of clinical efficacy, safety, new developments and adherence to allergen-specific immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis caused by allergy to ragweed pollen ( Ambrosia artemisiifolia). Patient Prefer Adherence 2017; 11:247-257. [PMID: 28243068 PMCID: PMC5317300 DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s70411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Allergic rhinitis is a common health problem in both children and adults. The number of patients allergic to ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is on the rise throughout Europe, having a significant negative impact on the patients' and their family's quality of life. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) has disease-modifying effects and can induce immune tolerance to allergens. Both subcutaneous immunotherapy and sublingual immunotherapy with ragweed extracts/preparations have clear positive clinical efficacy, especially over pharmacological treatment, even years after the treatment has ended. AIT also has very good safety profiles with extremely rare side effects, and the extracts/preparations used in AIT are commonly well tolerated by patients. However, patient adherence to treatment with AIT seems to be quite low, mostly due to the fact that treatment with AIT is relatively time-demanding and, moreover, due to patients not receiving adequate information and education about the treatment before it starts. AIT is undergoing innovations and improvements in clinical efficacy, safety and patient adherence, especially with new approaches using new adjuvants, recombinant or modified allergens, synthetic peptides, novel routes of administration (epidermal or intralymphatic), and new protocols, which might make AIT more acceptable for a wider range of patients and novel indications. Patient education and support (eg, recall systems) is one of the most important goals for AIT in the future, to further enhance treatment success.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mirjana Turkalj
- Children’s Hospital Srebrnjak, Zagreb
- Faculty of Medicine, JJ Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Bilińska D, Skjøth CA, Werner M, Kryza M, Malkiewicz M, Krynicka J, Drzeniecka-Osiadacz A. Source regions of ragweed pollen arriving in south-western Poland and the influence of meteorological data on the HYSPLIT model results. AEROBIOLOGIA 2017; 33:315-326. [PMID: 28955109 PMCID: PMC5591811 DOI: 10.1007/s10453-017-9471-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We have investigated the relationship between the inflow of air masses and the ragweed pollen concentration in SW Poland (Wrocław) for a 10-year period of 2005-2014. The HYSPLIT trajectory model was used to verify whether episodes of high concentrations can be related to regions outside of the main known ragweed centres in Europe, like Pannonian Plain, northern Italy and Ukraine. Furthermore, we used two different meteorological data sets (the global GDAS data set and from the WRF mesoscale model; the meteorological parameters were: U and V wind components, temperature and relative humidity) into HYSPLIT to evaluate the influence of meteorological input on calculated trajectories for high concentration ragweed episodes. The results show that the episodes of high pollen concentration (above 20 pm-3) represent a great part of total recorded ragweed pollen in Wrocław, but occur rarely and not in all years. High pollen episodes are connected with air masses coming from south and south-west Europe, which confirms the existence of expected ragweed centres but showed that other centres near Wrocław are not present. The HYSPLIT simulations with two different meteorological inputs indicated that footprint studies on ragweed benefit from a higher resolution meteorological data sets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daria Bilińska
- Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Carsten Ambelas Skjøth
- Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
- National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit, Institute of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, WR2 6AJ Worcester, UK
| | - Małgorzata Werner
- Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
- National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit, Institute of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, WR2 6AJ Worcester, UK
| | - Maciej Kryza
- Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Justyna Krynicka
- Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | | |
Collapse
|