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Zhong J, Xiao R, Wang P, Yang X, Lu Z, Zheng J, Jiang H, Rao X, Luo S, Huang F. Identifying influence factors and thresholds of the next day's pollen concentration in different seasons using interpretable machine learning. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 935:173430. [PMID: 38782273 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173430] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The prevalence of pollen allergies is a pressing global issue, with projections suggesting that half of the world's population will be affected by 2050 according to the estimation of the World Health Organization (WHO). Accurately forecasting pollen allergy risks requires identifying key factors and their thresholds for aerosol pollen. To address this, we developed a technical framework combining advanced machine learning and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) technology, focusing on Beijing. By analyzing meteorological data and vegetation phenology, we identified the factors influencing next-day's pollen concentration (NDP) in Beijing and their thresholds. Our results highlight vegetation phenology data from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), temperature, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure as crucial factors in spring. In contrast, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), air temperature, and wind speed are significant in autumn. Leveraging SHAP technology, we established season-specific thresholds for these factors. Our study not only confirms previous research but also unveils seasonal variations in the relationship between radar-derived vegetation phenology data and NDP. Additionally, we observe seasonal fluctuations in the influence patterns and threshold values of daily air temperatures on NDP. These insights are pivotal for improving pollen concentration prediction accuracy and managing allergic risks effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhong Zhong
- School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510090, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Rongbo Xiao
- School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510090, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Peng Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Xiaojun Yang
- Florida State University, Tallahassee 10921, United States
| | - Zongliang Lu
- School of Public Administration, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, Guangzhou 510320, China
| | - Jiatong Zheng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Haiyan Jiang
- School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510090, China
| | - Xin Rao
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou 510420, China
| | - Shuhua Luo
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Fei Huang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
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Van Haeften S, Campbell BC, Milic A, Addison-Smith E, Al Kouba J, Huete A, Beggs PJ, Davies JM. Environmental DNA analysis of airborne poaceae (grass) pollen reveals taxonomic diversity across seasons and climate zones. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 247:117983. [PMID: 38163541 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117983] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Grasses populate most biogeographical zones, and their diversity influences allergic sensitisation to pollen. Previously, the contribution of different Poaceae subfamilies to airborne pollen has mostly been inferred from historical herbarium records. We recently applied environmental (e)DNA metabarcoding at one subtropical site revealing that successive airborne grass pollen peaks were derived from repeated flowering of Chloridoid and Panicoid grasses over a season. This study aimed to compare spatiotemporal patterns in grass pollen exposure across seasons and climate zones. METHODS Airborne pollen concentrations across two austral pollen seasons spanning 2017-2019 at subtropical (Mutdapilly and Rocklea, Queensland) and temperate (Macquarie Park and Richmond, New South Wales) sites, were determined with a routine volumetric impaction sampler and counting by light microscopy. Poaceae rbcL metabarcode sequences amplified from daily pollen samples collected once per week were assigned to subfamily and genus using a ribosomal classifier and compared with Atlas of Living Australia sighting records. RESULTS eDNA analysis revealed distinct dominance patterns of grass pollen at various sites: Panicoid grasses prevailed in both subtropical Mutdapilly and temperate Macquarie Park, whilst Chloridoid grasses dominated the subtropical Rocklea site. Overall, subtropical sites showed significantly higher proportion of pollen from Chloridoid grasses than temperate sites, whereas the temperate sites showed a significantly higher proportion of pollen from Pooideae grasses than subtropical sites. Timing of airborne Pooid (spring), Panicoid and Chloridoid (late spring to autumn), and Arundinoid (autumn) pollen were significantly related to number of days from mid-winter. Proportions of eDNA for subfamilies correlated with distributions grass sighting records between climate zones. CONCLUSIONS eDNA analysis enabled finer taxonomic discernment of Poaceae pollen records across seasons and climate zones with implications for understanding adaptation of grasslands to climate change, and the complexity of pollen exposure for patients with allergic respiratory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanice Van Haeften
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre Immunology and Infection Control and Centre for Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bradley C Campbell
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre Immunology and Infection Control and Centre for Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andelija Milic
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre Immunology and Infection Control and Centre for Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Addison-Smith
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre Immunology and Infection Control and Centre for Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jane Al Kouba
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alfredo Huete
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paul J Beggs
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Janet M Davies
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre Immunology and Infection Control and Centre for Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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Tegart LJ, Schiro G, Dickinson JL, Green BJ, Barberán A, Marthick JR, Bissett A, Johnston FH, Jones PJ. Decrypting seasonal patterns of key pollen taxa in cool temperate Australia: A multi-barcode metabarcoding analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 243:117808. [PMID: 38043901 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117808] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Pollen allergies pose a considerable global public health concern. Allergy risk can vary significantly within plant families, yet some key pollen allergens can only be identified to family level by current optical methods. Pollen information with greater taxonomic resolution is therefore required to best support allergy prevention and self-management. We used environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to deepen taxonomic insights into the seasonal composition of airborne pollen in cool temperate Australia, a region with high rates of allergic respiratory disease. In Hobart, Tasmania, we collected routine weekly air samples from December 2018 until October 2020 and sequenced the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and chloroplastic tRNA-Leucine tRNA-Phenylalanine intergenic spacer (trnL-trnF) regions in order to address the following questions: a) What is the genus-level diversity of known and potential aeroallergens in Hobart, in particular, in the families Poaceae, Cupressaceae and Myrtaceae? b) How do the atmospheric concentrations of these taxa change over time, and c) Does trnL-trnF enhance resolution of biodiversity when used in addition to ITS2? Our results suggest that individuals in the region are exposed to temperate grasses including Poa and Bromus in the peak grass pollen season, however low levels of exposure to the subtropical grass Cynodon may occur in autumn and winter. Within Cupressaceae, both metabarcodes showed that exposure is predominantly to pollen from the introduced genera Cupressus and Juniperus. Only ITS2 detected the native genus, Callitris. Both metabarcodes detected Eucalyptus as the major Myrtaceae genus, with trnL-trnF exhibiting primer bias for this family. These findings help refine our understanding of allergy triggers in Tasmania and highlight the utility of multiple metabarcodes in aerobiome studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lachlan J Tegart
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
| | - Gabriele Schiro
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States.
| | - Joanne L Dickinson
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
| | - Brett J Green
- Office of the Director, Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, 26505, United States.
| | - Albert Barberán
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States.
| | - James R Marthick
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
| | - Andrew Bissett
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
| | - Fay H Johnston
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia; Public Health Services, Department of Health, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
| | - Penelope J Jones
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
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Frisk CA, Adams-Groom B, Smith M. Isolating the species element in grass pollen allergy: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 883:163661. [PMID: 37094678 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Grass pollen is a leading cause of allergy in many countries, particularly Europe. Although many elements of grass pollen production and dispersal are quite well researched, gaps still remain around the grass species that are predominant in the air and which of those are most likely to trigger allergy. In this comprehensive review we isolate the species aspect in grass pollen allergy by exploring the interdisciplinary interdependencies between plant ecology, public health, aerobiology, reproductive phenology and molecular ecology. We further identify current research gaps and provide open ended questions and recommendations for future research in an effort to focus the research community to develop novel strategies to combat grass pollen allergy. We emphasise the role of separating temperate and subtropical grasses, identified through divergence in evolutionary history, climate adaptations and flowering times. However, allergen cross-reactivity and the degree of IgE connectivity in sufferers between the two groups remains an area of active research. The importance of future research to identify allergen homology through biomolecular similarity and the connection to species taxonomy and practical implications of this to allergenicity is further emphasised. We also discuss the relevance of eDNA and molecular ecological techniques (DNA metabarcoding, qPCR and ELISA) as important tools in quantifying the connection between the biosphere with the atmosphere. By gaining more understanding of the connection between species-specific atmospheric eDNA and flowering phenology we will further elucidate the importance of species in releasing grass pollen and allergens to the atmosphere and their individual role in grass pollen allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl A Frisk
- Department of Urban Greening and Vegetation Ecology, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Ås, Norway.
| | - Beverley Adams-Groom
- 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
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5
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Davies JM, Smith BA, Milic A, Campbell B, Van Haeften S, Burton P, Keaney B, Lampugnani ER, Vicendese D, Medek D, Huete A, Erbas B, Newbigin E, Katelaris CH, Haberle SG, Beggs PJ. The AusPollen partnership project: Allergenic airborne grass pollen seasonality and magnitude across temperate and subtropical eastern Australia, 2016-2020. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 214:113762. [PMID: 35779617 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Allergic rhinitis affects half a billion people globally, including a fifth of the Australian population. As the foremost outdoor allergen source, ambient grass pollen exposure is likely to be altered by climate change. The AusPollen Partnership aimed to standardize pollen monitoring and examine broad-scale biogeographical and meteorological factors influencing interannual variation in seasonality of grass pollen aerobiology in Australia. METHODS Daily airborne grass and other pollen concentrations in four eastern Australian cities separated by over 1700 km, were simultaneously monitored using Hirst-style samplers following the Australian Interim Pollen and Spore Monitoring Standard and Protocols over four seasons from 2016 to 2020. The grass seasonal pollen integral was determined. Gridded rainfall, temperature, and satellite-derived grassland sources up to 100 km from the monitoring site were analysed. RESULTS The complexity of grass pollen seasons was related to latitude with multiple major summer-autumn peaks in Brisbane, major spring and minor summer peaks in Sydney and Canberra, and single major spring peaks occurring in Melbourne. The subtropical site of Brisbane showed a higher proportion of grass out of total pollen than more temperate sites. The magnitude of the grass seasonal pollen integral was correlated with pasture greenness, rainfall and number of days over 30 °C, preceding and within the season, up to 100 km radii from monitoring sites. CONCLUSIONS Interannual fluctuations in Australian grass pollen season magnitude are strongly influenced by regional biogeography and both pre- and in-season weather. This first continental scale, Southern Hemisphere standardized aerobiology dataset forms the basis to track shifts in pollen seasonality, biodiversity and impacts on allergic respiratory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet M Davies
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre Immunity and Infection Control, Centre for Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Herston, 4006, Queensland, Australia; Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Office of Research, Herston, 4006, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Beth Addison Smith
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre Immunity and Infection Control, Centre for Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Herston, 4006, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andelija Milic
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre Immunity and Infection Control, Centre for Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Herston, 4006, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bradley Campbell
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre Immunity and Infection Control, Centre for Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Herston, 4006, Queensland, Australia
| | - Shanice Van Haeften
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre Immunity and Infection Control, Centre for Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Herston, 4006, Queensland, Australia
| | - Pamela Burton
- Department of Immunology, Campbelltown Hospital, Campbelltown, Sydney, New South Wales, 2751, Australia
| | - Benedict Keaney
- The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - Edwin R Lampugnani
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Don Vicendese
- The Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; The Department of Mathematics and Statistics, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Danielle Medek
- Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport, Queensland, 4215, Australia
| | - Alfredo Huete
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, 2007, Australia
| | - Bircan Erbas
- School of Public Health, LaTrobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Edward Newbigin
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Constance H Katelaris
- Department of Immunology, Campbelltown Hospital, Campbelltown, Sydney, New South Wales, 2751, Australia; School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, 2751, Australia
| | - Simon G Haberle
- The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - Paul J Beggs
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, 2109, Australia
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6
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Biological-based and remote sensing techniques to link vegetative and reproductive development and assess pollen emission in Mediterranean grasses. ECOL INFORM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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7
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Addison-Smith B, Milic A, Dwarakanath D, Simunovic M, Van Haeften S, Timbrell V, Davies JM. Medium-Term Increases in Ambient Grass Pollen Between 1994-1999 and 2016-2020 in a Subtropical Climate Zone. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2022; 2:705313. [PMID: 35387005 PMCID: PMC8974679 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2021.705313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Grass pollen is the major outdoor trigger of allergic respiratory diseases. Climate change is influencing pollen seasonality in Northern Hemisphere temperate regions, but many aspects of the effects on grass pollen remain unclear. Carbon dioxide and temperature rises could increase the distribution of subtropical grasses, however, medium term shifts in grass pollen in subtropical climates have not yet been analysed. This study investigates changes in grass pollen aerobiology in a subtropical city of Brisbane, Australia, between the two available monitoring periods, 1994-1999 and 2016-2020. Potential drivers of pollen change were examined including weather and satellite-derived vegetation indicators. The magnitude of the seasonal pollen index for grass showed almost a three-fold increase for 2016-2020 over 1994-1999. The number and proportion of high and extreme grass pollen days in the recent period increased compared to earlier monitoring. Statistically significant changes were also identified for distributions of CO2, satellite-derived seasonal vegetation health indices, and daily maximum temperatures, but not for minimum temperatures, daily rainfall, or seasonal fraction of green groundcover. Quarterly grass pollen levels were correlated with corresponding vegetation health indices, and with green groundcover fraction, suggesting that seasonal-scale plant health was higher in the latter period. The magnitude of grass pollen exposure in the subtropical region of Brisbane has increased markedly in the recent past, posing an increased environmental health threat. This study suggests the need for continuous pollen monitoring to track and respond to the possible effects of climate change on grass pollen loads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth Addison-Smith
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andelija Milic
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Divya Dwarakanath
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Marko Simunovic
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Shanice Van Haeften
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Victoria Timbrell
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Janet M Davies
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Office of Research, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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8
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Peters RL, Sutherland D, Dharmage SC, Lowe AJ, Perrett KP, Tang MLK, Lycett K, Knibbs LD, Koplin JJ, Mavoa S. The association between environmental greenness and the risk of food allergy: A population-based study in Melbourne, Australia. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2022; 33:e13749. [PMID: 35212044 DOI: 10.1111/pai.13749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While exposure to environmental greenness in childhood has shown mixed associations with the development of allergic disease, the relationship with food allergy has not been explored. We investigated the association between exposure to environmental greenness and challenge-confirmed food allergy in a large population-based cohort. METHODS The HealthNuts study recruited 5276 12-month-old infants in Melbourne, Australia, who underwent skin prick testing to peanut, egg, and sesame; infants with a detectable wheal underwent food challenges to determine food allergy status. Environmental greenness was estimated using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) for five buffer zones around the infant's home address: at the home, 100 m, 500 m, 800 m, and 1600 m radial distances. Environmental greenness was categorized into 3 tertiles and mixed effects logistic regression models quantified the association between greenness and the risk of food allergy, adjusting for confounding and accounting for clustering at the neighborhood level. RESULTS NDVI data were available for n = 5097. For most buffer zones, medium and high greenness, compared to low greenness, was associated with an increased risk of peanut allergy (eg, 100 m tertile 2 aOR 1.89 95% CI 1.22-2.95, tertile 3 aOR 1.78 95% CI 1.13-2.82). For egg allergy, the effect sizes were smaller (100 m tertile 2 aOR 1.52 95% CI 1.16-1.97, tertile 3 aOR 1.38 95% CI 1.05-1.82). Socioeconomic status (SES) modified the association between greenness and peanut allergy, but not egg allergy; associations were apparent in the low SES group but not in the high SES group (p for interaction 0.08 at 100 m). Air pollution (PM2.5) also modified the associations between environmental greenness and food allergy, with associations present in high air pollution areas but not low (p for interaction at 100 m 0.05 for peanut and 0.06 for egg allergy.) CONCLUSION: Increased exposure to environmental greenness in the first year of life was associated with an increased risk of food allergy. Increased greenness may correlate with higher pollen levels which may trigger innate immune responses skewing the immune system to the Th2-dependent allergic phenotype; additionally, some pollen and food allergens are cross-reactive. Given the mixed data on greenness and other allergies, the relationship appears complex and may also be influenced by confounding variables outside those that were measured in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Peters
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - David Sutherland
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Shyamali C Dharmage
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Adrian J Lowe
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Kirsten P Perrett
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Allergy and Immunology, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia
| | - Mimi L K Tang
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Allergy and Immunology, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia
| | - Kate Lycett
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.,School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia
| | - Luke D Knibbs
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jennifer J Koplin
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Suzanne Mavoa
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
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van Nunen SA, Burk MB, Burton PK, Ford G, Harvey RJ, Lozynsky A, Pickford E, Rimmer JS, Smart J, Sutherland MF, Thien F, Weber HC, Zehnwirth H, Newbigin E, Katelaris CH. 5-grass-pollen SLIT effectiveness in seasonal allergic rhinitis: Impact of sensitization to subtropical grass pollen. World Allergy Organ J 2022; 15:100632. [PMID: 35280502 PMCID: PMC8873945 DOI: 10.1016/j.waojou.2022.100632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Temperate grass (eg, ryegrass) pollen is a major driver of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and asthma risks, including thunderstorm asthma. Data for the effectiveness of temperate grass pollen allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in SAR patients from the southern hemisphere, who are frequently polysensitized to subtropical grass pollens, are limited. The 300 IR 5-grass pollen sublingual immunotherapy tablet (300 IR 5-grass SLIT) is known to be effective in polysensitized SAR patients with primary allergy to temperate grasses, however, the influence of polysensitization to subtropical grass pollen on treatment responses has yet to be specifically addressed. Key aims of this study were to measure patient treatment satisfaction during 300 IR 5-grass SLIT treatment and evaluate how polysensitization to subtropical grass pollens affects treatment responses. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted in 63 patients (aged ≥5 years) in several temperate regions of Australia prescribed 300 IR 5-grass SLIT for SAR over 3 consecutive grass pollen seasons. Ambient levels of pollen were measured at representative sites. Patient treatment satisfaction was assessed using a QUARTIS questionnaire. Rhinoconjunctivitis Total Symptom Score (RTSS) and a Hodges-Lehmann Estimator analysis was performed to evaluate if polysensitization to subtropical grass pollen affected SAR symptom intensity changes during SLIT. Results A diagnosis of ryegrass pollen allergy was nearly universal. There were 74.6% (47/63) polysensitized to subtropical and temperate grass pollens. There were 23.8% (15/63) monosensitized to temperate grass pollens. From the first pollen season, statistically significant improvements occurred in SAR symptoms compared with baseline in both monosensitized and polysensitized patients, particularly in those polysensitized (P = 0.0297). Improvements in SAR symptoms were sustained and similar in both groups in the second and third pollen seasons, reaching 70–85% improvement (P < 0.01). Polysensitized patients from both northerly and southerly temperate regions in Australia showed similar improvements. Grass pollen counts in both regions were consistently highest during springtime. Conclusions 300 IR 5-grass SLIT is effective in a real-life setting in SAR patients in the southern hemisphere with primary allergy to temperate grass pollen and predominantly springtime grass pollen exposures. Importantly, SLIT treatment effectiveness was irrespective of the patient's polysensitization status to subtropical grass pollens.
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10
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Rahman A, Khan MHR, Luo C, Yang Z, Ke J, Jiang W. Variations in airborne pollen and spores in urban Guangzhou and their relationships with meteorological variables. Heliyon 2021; 7:e08379. [PMID: 34825088 PMCID: PMC8605060 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Airborne pollen causes various types of allergies in humans, and the extent of allergic infection is related to the presence of different types of sporo-pollen and existing meteorological conditions in a certain area. Therefore, an aeropalynological study of 72 airborne samples with a hydrofluoric acid (HF) treatment was conducted in the Haizhu district of Guangzhou, China, in 2016, to identify the temporal variations in airborne sporo-pollen and the relationship between airborne sporo-pollen concentrations and different meteorological variables in Guangzhou, China. Forty-five types of airborne pollen, seven types of airborne spores, and some undetermined sporo-pollen taxa were identified with two separate plant habitats occurring during this period (from January to December 2016): arboreal pollen (tree-based) and non-arboreal pollen (herb, shrub, aquatic, liane, etc.). Furthermore, the daily records of four key meteorological variables (temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, and wind speed) were acquired to distinguish the pollen seasons and correlated with Spearman's rho test to establish a pollen-weather data book with the seasonal variations. The two leading seasons were identified based on pollen abundance: spring and autumn. Among them, the primary dominant sporo-pollen families during the spring season were Poaceae, Pinaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Moraceae, Microlepia sp., and Polypodiaceae. Conversely, Artemisia sp., Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae, Alnus sp., Corylus sp., Myrtaceae, and Rosaceae were the dominant pollen species during autumn. However, few pollen grains were identified in January, May-July, and December. The statistical analysis revealed that temperature had both positive and negative correlations with sporo-pollen concentrations. However, precipitation and relative humidity had a strong impact on the sporo-pollen dispersion and exhibited a negative correlation with the sporo-pollen concentrations. The wind speed had a positive but strong correlation with the sporo-pollen concentration during the study period. Some inconsistent results were found due to environmental variations, vegetation type, and climate change around the study area. This study will facilitate the identification of pollen seasons to prevent the occurrence of pollen-related allergies in the Guangzhou city area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananna Rahman
- Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
- Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Md Hafijur Rahaman Khan
- Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
- Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chuanxiu Luo
- Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
- Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Zijie Yang
- Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
- Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jinzhao Ke
- School of Geographic Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Weiming Jiang
- School of Geographical Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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11
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Schramm PJ, Brown CL, Saha S, Conlon KC, Manangan AP, Bell JE, Hess JJ. A systematic review of the effects of temperature and precipitation on pollen concentrations and season timing, and implications for human health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2021; 65:1615-1628. [PMID: 33877430 PMCID: PMC9016682 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-021-02128-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Climate and weather directly impact plant phenology, affecting airborne pollen. The objective of this systematic review is to examine the impacts of meteorological variables on airborne pollen concentrations and pollen season timing. Using PRISMA methodology, we reviewed literature that assessed whether there was a relationship between local temperature and precipitation and measured airborne pollen. The search strategy included terms related to pollen, trends or measurements, and season timing. For inclusion, studies must have conducted a correlation analysis of at least 5 years of airborne pollen data to local meteorological data and report quantitative results. Data from peer-reviewed articles were extracted on the correlations between seven pollen indicators (main pollen season start date, end date, peak date, and length, annual pollen integral, average daily pollen concentration, and peak pollen concentration), and two meteorological variables (temperature and precipitation). Ninety-three articles were included in the analysis out of 9,679 articles screened. Overall, warmer temperatures correlated with earlier and longer pollen seasons and higher pollen concentrations. Precipitation had varying effects on pollen concentration and pollen season timing indicators. Increased precipitation may have a short-term effect causing low pollen concentrations potentially due to "wash out" effect. Long-term effects of precipitation varied for trees and weeds and had a positive correlation with grass pollen levels. With increases in temperature due to climate change, pollen seasons for some taxa in some regions may start earlier, last longer, and be more intense, which may be associated with adverse health impacts, as pollen exposure has well-known health effects in sensitized individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Schramm
- Climate and Health Program, Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, S106-6, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA.
| | - C L Brown
- Climate and Health Program, Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, S106-6, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA
| | - S Saha
- Climate and Health Program, Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, S106-6, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA
| | - K C Conlon
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - A P Manangan
- Climate and Health Program, Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, S106-6, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA
| | - J E Bell
- Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - J J Hess
- Departments of Emergency Medicine, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, and Global Health, and the Center for Health and the Global Environment, Schools of Medicine and Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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12
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Newnham RM. Monitoring airborne pollen in New Zealand. J R Soc N Z 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/03036758.2021.1967414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rewi M. Newnham
- Schhol of Geography, Environment & Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
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13
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Campbell BC, Al Kouba J, Timbrell V, Noor MJ, Massel K, Gilding EK, Angel N, Kemish B, Hugenholtz P, Godwin ID, Davies JM. Tracking seasonal changes in diversity of pollen allergen exposure: Targeted metabarcoding of a subtropical aerobiome. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 747:141189. [PMID: 32799020 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The importance of grass pollen to the global burden of allergic respiratory disease is well established but exposure to subtropical and temperate pollens is difficult to discern. Current monitoring of airborne pollen relies on light microscopy, limiting identification of taxa to family level. This informs seasonal fluctuations in pollen aerobiology but restricts analysis of aerobiological composition. We aimed to test the utility of DNA metabarcoding to identify specific taxa contributing to the aerobiome of environmental air samples, using routine pollen and spore monitoring equipment, as well as assess temporal variation of Poaceae pollen across an entire season. Airborne pollen concentrations were determined by light microscopy over two pollen seasons in the subtropical city of Brisbane (27°32'S, 153°00E), Australia. Thirty daily pollen samples were subjected to high throughput sequencing of the plastid rbcL amplicon. Amplicons corresponded to plants observed in the local biogeographical region with up to 3238 different operational taxonomic units (OTU) detected. The aerobiome sequencing data frequently identified pollen to genus levels with significant quantitative differences in aerobiome diversity between the months and seasons detected. Moreover, multiple peaks of Chloridoideae and Panicoideae pollen were evident over the collection period confirming these grasses as the dominant Poaceae pollen source across the season. Targeted high throughput sequencing of routinely collected airborne pollen samples appears to offer utility to track temporal changes in the aerobiome and shifts in pollen exposure. Precise identification of the composition and temporal distributions of airborne pollen is important for tracking biodiversity and for management of allergic respiratory disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- B C Campbell
- Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - V Timbrell
- Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - M J Noor
- Fatema Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - K Massel
- The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - E K Gilding
- The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - N Angel
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - B Kemish
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - P Hugenholtz
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - I D Godwin
- The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - J M Davies
- Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia; Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Australia.
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14
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Davies JM, Berman D, Beggs PJ, Ramón GD, Peter J, Katelaris CH, Ziska LH. Global Climate Change and Pollen Aeroallergens: A Southern Hemisphere Perspective. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 2020; 41:1-16. [PMID: 33228867 DOI: 10.1016/j.iac.2020.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Climatic change will have an impact on production and release of pollen, with consequences for the duration and magnitude of aeroallergen seasonal exposure and allergic diseases. Evaluations of pollen aerobiology in the southern hemisphere have been limited by resourcing and the density of monitoring sites. This review emphasizes inconsistencies in pollen monitoring methods and metrics used globally. Research should consider unique southern hemisphere biodiversity, climate, plant distributions, standardization of pollen aerobiology, automation, and environmental integration. For both hemispheres, there is a clear need for better understanding of likely influences of climate change and comprehending their impact on pollen-related health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet M Davies
- School of Biomedical Science, Queensland University of Technology, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia; Office of Research, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia.
| | - Dilys Berman
- Allergy and Immunology Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Paul J Beggs
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Germán Darío Ramón
- Hospital Italiano Regional DelSur, Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jonny Peter
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, 7700
- PO Box 34560, 7937, South Africa; Allergy and Immunology Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, George Street, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Lewis H Ziska
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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15
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Seasonal Comparisons of Himawari-8 AHI and MODIS Vegetation Indices over Latitudinal Australian Grassland Sites. REMOTE SENSING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/rs12152494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) on board the Himawari-8 geostationary (GEO) satellite offers comparable spectral and spatial resolutions as low earth orbiting (LEO) sensors such as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensors, but with hypertemporal image acquisition capability. This raises the possibility of improved monitoring of highly dynamic ecosystems, such as grasslands, including fine-scale phenology retrievals from vegetation index (VI) time series. However, identifying and understanding how GEO VI temporal profiles would be different from traditional LEO VIs need to be evaluated, especially with the new generation of geostationary satellites, with unfamiliar observation geometries not experienced with MODIS, VIIRS, or Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) VI time series data. The objectives of this study were to investigate the variations in AHI reflectances and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), enhanced vegetation index (EVI), and two-band EVI (EVI2) in relation to diurnal phase angle variations, and to compare AHI VI seasonal datasets with MODIS VIs (standard and sun and view angle-adjusted VIs) over a functional range of dry grassland sites in eastern Australia. Strong NDVI diurnal variations and negative NDVI hotspot effects were found due to differential red and NIR band sensitivities to diurnal phase angle changes. In contrast, EVI and EVI2 were nearly insensitive to diurnal phase angle variations and displayed nearly flat diurnal profiles without noticeable hotspot influences. At seasonal time scales, AHI NDVI values were consistently lower than MODIS NDVI values, while AHI EVI and EVI2 values were significantly higher than MODIS EVI and EVI2 values, respectively. We attributed the cross-sensor differences in VI patterns to the year-round smaller phase angles and backscatter observations from AHI, in which the sunlit canopies induced a positive EVI/ EVI2 response and negative NDVI response. BRDF adjustments of MODIS VIs to solar noon and to the oblique view zenith angle of AHI resulted in strong cross-sensor convergence of VI values (R2 > 0.94, mean absolute difference <0.02). These results highlight the importance of accounting for cross-sensor observation geometries for generating compatible AHI and MODIS annual VI time series. The strong agreement found in this study shows promise in cross-sensor applications and suggests that a denser time series can be formed through combined GEO and LEO measurement synergies.
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16
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Silver JD, Spriggs K, Haberle SG, Katelaris CH, Newbigin EJ, Lampugnani ER. Using crowd-sourced allergic rhinitis symptom data to improve grass pollen forecasts and predict individual symptoms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 720:137351. [PMID: 32325552 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Seasonal allergic rhinitis (AR), also known as hay fever, is a common respiratory condition brought on by a range of environmental triggers. Previous work has characterised the relationships between community-level AR symptoms collected using mobile apps in two Australian cities, Canberra and Melbourne, and various environmental covariates including pollen. Here, we build on these relationships by assessing the skill of models that provide a next-day forecast of an individual's risk of developing AR and that nowcast ambient grass pollen concentrations using crowd-sourced AR symptoms as a predictor. Categorical grass pollen forecasts (low/moderate/high) were made based on binning mean daily symptom scores by corresponding categories. Models for an individual's risk were constructed by forward variable selection, considering environmental, demographic, behaviour and health-related inputs, with non-linear responses permitted. Proportional-odds logistic regression was then applied with the variables selected, modelling the symptom scores on their original five-point scale. AR symptom-based estimates of today's average grass pollen concentration were more accurate than those provided by two benchmark forecasting methods using various metrics for assessing accuracy. Predictions of an individual's next-day AR symptoms rated on a five-point scale were correct in 36% of cases and within one point on this scale in 82% of cases. Both outcomes were significantly better than chance. This large-scale AR symptoms measurement program shows that crowd-sourced symptom scores can be used to predict the daily average grass pollen concentration, as well as provide a personalised AR forecast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy D Silver
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kymble Spriggs
- Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Allergy and Immunology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Simon G Haberle
- School of Culture, History and Language, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | | | - Edward J Newbigin
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Edwin R Lampugnani
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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17
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Simunovic M, Dwarakanath D, Addison-Smith B, Susanto NH, Erbas B, Baker P, Davies JM. Grass pollen as a trigger of emergency department presentations and hospital admissions for respiratory conditions in the subtropics: A systematic review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 182:109125. [PMID: 32069762 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION It is unknown if high concentration of airborne grass pollen, where subtropical grasses (Chloridoideae and Panicoideae) dominate, is a risk factor for respiratory health. Here we systematically reviewed the association between airborne grass pollen exposure and asthma emergency department (ED) presentations and hospital admissions in subtropical climates. OBJECTIVES A systematic review was performed to identify and summarise studies that reported on respiratory health (asthma ED presentations and hospital admissions) and airborne grass pollen exposure in subtropical climates. METHODS Searches were conducted in: MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL (EBSCO), Embase and Google Scholar databases (1966-2019). Risk of bias was assessed using a validated quality assessment tool. A meta-analysis was planned, however due to the heterogeneity in study design it was determined inappropriate and instead a narrative synthesis was undertaken. RESULTS Nineteen studies were identified for inclusion, with a total of 598,931 asthma ED presentation participants and 36,504 asthma hospital admission participants in six countries (Australia, India, Israel, Italy, Spain, USA). The narrative synthesis found airborne grass pollen appears to have a small and inconsistent increase on asthma ED presentations (judged as: probably little effect n = 5, may have little effect n = 4, no effect n = 2 and uncertain if there is an effect n = 4) and hospital admissions (judged as: probably increase slightly n = 2 probably little effect n = 1, may have a little effect n = 1, no effect n = 3 and we are uncertain if there is an effect n = 4) in the subtropics. Furthermore, the reported effect sizes were small and its clinical relevance may be difficult to discern. CONCLUSION Exposure to airborne grass pollen appears to have a small and inconsistent increase on asthma ED presentations and hospital admissions in the subtropics. These findings are comparable to reported observations from studies undertaken in temperate regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Simunovic
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Divya Dwarakanath
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Beth Addison-Smith
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nugroho H Susanto
- School of Public Health and Epidemiology, LaTrobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bircan Erbas
- School of Public Health and Epidemiology, LaTrobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Philip Baker
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Janet M Davies
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Office of Research, Metro North Hospital and Health Services,Herston, Queensland, Australia
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Jones PJ, Koolhof IS, Wheeler AJ, Williamson GJ, Lucani C, Campbell SL, Bowman DMJS, Johnston FH. Can smartphone data identify the local environmental drivers of respiratory disease? ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 182:109118. [PMID: 32069747 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Asthma and allergic rhinitis (or hay fever) are ubiquitous, chronic health conditions that seasonally affect a sizeable proportion of the population. Both are commonly triggered or exacerbated by environmental conditions including aeroallergens, air quality and weather. Smartphone technology offers new opportunities to identify environmental drivers by allowing large-scale, real-time collection of day-to-day symptoms. As yet, however, few studies have explored the potential of this technology to provide useful epidemiological data on environment-symptom relationships. Here, we use data from the smartphone app 'AirRater' to examine relationships between asthma and allergic rhinitis symptoms and weather, air quality and pollen loads in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. We draw on symptom data logged by app users over a three-year period and use time-series analysis to assess the relationship between symptoms and environmental co-variates. Symptoms are associated with particulate matter (IRR 1.06, 95% CI: 1.04-1.08), maximum temperature (IRR 1.28, 95% CI: 1.13-1.44) and pollen taxa including Betula (IRR 1.04, 95% CI: 1.02-1.07), Cupressaceae (IRR 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01-1.04), Myrtaceae (IRR 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02-1.10) and Poaceae (IRR 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01-1.09). The importance of these pollen taxa varies seasonally and more taxa are associated with allergic rhinitis (eye/nose) than asthma (lung) symptoms. Our results are congruent with established epidemiological evidence, while providing important local insights including the association between symptoms and Myrtaceae pollen. We conclude that smartphone-sourced data can be a useful tool in environmental epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penelope J Jones
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
| | - Iain S Koolhof
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia; School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia.
| | - Amanda J Wheeler
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia; Mary McKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.
| | - Grant J Williamson
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia.
| | - Christopher Lucani
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia.
| | - Sharon L Campbell
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia; Public Health Services, Department of Health, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
| | - David M J S Bowman
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia.
| | - Fay H Johnston
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia; Public Health Services, Department of Health, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
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Kailaivasan TH, Timbrell VL, Solley G, Smith WB, McLean-Tooke A, van Nunen S, Smith P, Upham JW, Langguth D, Davies JM. Biogeographical variation in specific IgE recognition of temperate and subtropical grass pollen allergens in allergic rhinitis patients. Clin Transl Immunology 2020; 9:e01103. [PMID: 32025301 PMCID: PMC6997006 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Globally, grass pollens (GP) are major aeroallergen triggers of allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma. However, patterns of allergic sensitisation to pollen of temperate (Pooideae: Lolium perenne) and subtropical (Chloridoideae: Cynodon dactylon and Panicoideae: Paspalum notatum) subfamilies in diverse climates remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the level of allergic sensitisation and IgE specificity for major GP allergens representing the three subfamilies in biogeographically distinct regions. Methods Participants (GP‐allergic with AR, 330; non‐atopic, 29; other allergies, 54) were recruited in subtropical: Queensland, and temperate: New South Wales, Western and South Australia, regions. Clinical history, skin prick test (SPT), total and specific IgE to GP and purified allergens (ImmunoCAP) were evaluated. Cross‐inhibition of sIgE with Pas n 1, Cyn d 1 and Lol p 1 by GP extracts was investigated. Results Queensland participants showed higher sensitisation to P. notatum and C. dactylon than L. perenne GP. sIgE was higher to Pas n 1 and Cyn d 1, and sIgE to Pas n 1 and Cyn d 1 was inhibited more by Panicoideae and Chloridoideae, respectively, than Pooideae GP. Conversely, participants from temperate regions showed highest sensitisation levels to L. perenne GP and Lol p 1, and sIgE to Lol p 1 was inhibited more by Pooideae than other GP. Conclusion Levels and patterns of sensitisation to subtropical and temperate GP in AR patients depended on biogeography. Knowledge of the specificity of sensitisation to local allergens is important for optimal diagnosis and choice of allergen‐specific immunotherapy to maximise benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thina H Kailaivasan
- School of Biomedical Sciences Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation Queensland University of Technology Brisbane QLD Australia
| | - Victoria L Timbrell
- School of Biomedical Sciences Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation Queensland University of Technology Brisbane QLD Australia
| | | | | | | | - Sheryl van Nunen
- Royal North Shore Hospital and The University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Peter Smith
- Queensland Allergy Services Gold Coast QLD Australia
| | - John W Upham
- The University of Queensland and The Princess Alexandra Hospital Brisbane QLD Australia
| | | | - Janet M Davies
- School of Biomedical Sciences Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation Queensland University of Technology Brisbane QLD Australia.,Metro North Hospital and Health Service Herston QLD Australia
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21
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Walter LM, Tamanyan K, Nisbet L, Weichard AJ, Davey MJ, Nixon GM, Horne RSC. Pollen levels on the day of polysomnography influence sleep disordered breathing severity in children with allergic rhinitis. Sleep Breath 2019; 23:651-657. [PMID: 30838494 DOI: 10.1007/s11325-019-01819-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common risk factor for sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in children. Allergy to pollen is a trigger for allergic rhinitis, causing nasal inflammation, upper airway congestion and obstruction. We aimed to determine if the pollen count on the day of diagnostic polysomnography for SDB affected the result. METHODS Children (3-18 years; n = 90) who participated in research studies between 1 October and 31 December, when daily regional pollen counts were available, in the years 2005-2016 were eligible for inclusion. All children underwent overnight polysomnography for assessment of SDB severity. Pollen was categorised as grass or other pollen. Multiple stepwise linear regression was performed to determine whether the pollen count for that day, a diagnosis of asthma, age, and BMI-z-score were determinants of respiratory parameters measured on polysomnography, including the obstructive apnoea hypopnoea index (OAHI), SpO2 nadir, average SpO2 drop, SpO2 < 90%, oxygen desaturation index > 4% (ODI4), and average transcutaneous CO2 (TCM). RESULTS Sixteen/90 children had AR. In children with AR, an increase in grass pollen of 1 grain/m3 predicted an increase in OAHI of 0.2 events/h, ODI4 of 0.18 times/h, SpO2 < 90% of 0.03 times/h, and TCM of 0.07 mmHg. None of the factors were determinants of SDB severity in children without AR. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight that daily pollen counts may be an important factor influencing the severity of SDB on a single night of polysomnography in children with clinical allergic rhinitis and should be taken into account when determining treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Walter
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Knarik Tamanyan
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Melbourne Children's Sleep Centre, Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lauren Nisbet
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Melbourne Children's Sleep Centre, Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Aidan J Weichard
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Melbourne Children's Sleep Centre, Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Margot J Davey
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Melbourne Children's Sleep Centre, Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gillian M Nixon
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Melbourne Children's Sleep Centre, Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Rosemary S C Horne
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Melbourne Children's Sleep Centre, Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
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22
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Neumann JE, Anenberg SC, Weinberger KR, Amend M, Gulati S, Crimmins A, Roman H, Fann N, Kinney PL. Estimates of Present and Future Asthma Emergency Department Visits Associated With Exposure to Oak, Birch, and Grass Pollen in the United States. GEOHEALTH 2019; 3:11-27. [PMID: 31106285 PMCID: PMC6516486 DOI: 10.1029/2018gh000153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Pollen is an important environmental cause of allergic asthma episodes. Prior work has established a proof of concept for assessing projected climate change impacts on future oak pollen exposure and associated health impacts. This paper uses additional monitor data and epidemiologic functions to extend prior analyses, reporting new estimates of the current and projected future health burden of oak, birch, and grass pollen across the contiguous United States. Our results suggest that tree pollen in the spring currently accounts for between 25,000 and 50,000 pollen-related asthma emergency department (ED) visits annually (95% confidence interval: 14,000 to 100,000), roughly two thirds of which occur among people under age 18. Grass pollen in the summer season currently accounts for less than 10,000 cases annually (95% confidence interval: 4,000 to 16,000). Compared to a baseline with 21st century population growth but constant pollen, future temperature and precipitation show an increase in ED visits of 14% in 2090 for a higher greenhouse gas emissions scenario, but only 8% for a moderate emissions scenario, reflecting projected increases in pollen season length. Grass pollen, which is more sensitive to changes in climatic conditions, is a primary contributor to future ED visits, with the largest effects in the Northeast, Midwest, and Southern Great Plains regions. More complete assessment of the current and future health burden of pollen is limited by the availability of data on pollen types (e.g., ragweed), other health effects (e.g., other respiratory disease), and economic consequences (e.g., medication costs).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kate R. Weinberger
- Department of EpidemiologyBrown University School of Public HealthProvidenceRIUSA
| | | | | | | | | | - Neal Fann
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle ParkNorth CarolinaUSA
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23
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Devadas R, Huete AR, Vicendese D, Erbas B, Beggs PJ, Medek D, Haberle SG, Newnham RM, Johnston FH, Jaggard AK, Campbell B, Burton PK, Katelaris CH, Newbigin E, Thibaudon M, Davies JM. Dynamic ecological observations from satellites inform aerobiology of allergenic grass pollen. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 633:441-451. [PMID: 29579655 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Allergic diseases, including respiratory conditions of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and asthma, affect up to 500 million people worldwide. Grass pollen are one major source of aeroallergens globally. Pollen forecast methods are generally site-based and rely on empirical meteorological relationships and/or the use of labour-intensive pollen collection traps that are restricted to sparse sampling locations. The spatial and temporal dynamics of the grass pollen sources themselves, however, have received less attention. Here we utilised a consistent set of MODIS satellite measures of grass cover and seasonal greenness (EVI) over five contrasting urban environments, located in Northern (France) and Southern Hemispheres (Australia), to evaluate their utility for predicting airborne grass pollen concentrations. Strongly seasonal and pronounced pollinating periods, synchronous with satellite measures of grass cover greenness, were found at the higher latitude temperate sites in France (46-50° N. Lat.), with peak pollen activity lagging peak greenness, on average by 2-3weeks. In contrast, the Australian sites (34-38° S. Lat.) displayed pollinating periods that were less synchronous with satellite greenness measures as peak pollen concentrations lagged peak greenness by as much as 4 to 7weeks. The Australian sites exhibited much higher spatial and inter-annual variations compared to the French sites and at the Sydney site, broader and multiple peaks in both pollen concentrations and greenness data coincided with flowering of more diverse grasses including subtropical species. Utilising generalised additive models (GAMs) we found the satellite greenness data of grass cover areas explained 80-90% of airborne grass pollen concentrations across the three French sites (p<0.001) and accounted for 34 to 76% of grass pollen variations over the two sites in Australia (p<0.05). Our results demonstrate the potential of satellite sensing to augment forecast models of grass pollen aerobiology as a tool to reduce the health and socioeconomic burden of pollen-sensitive allergic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakhesh Devadas
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Alfredo R Huete
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Don Vicendese
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, VIC 3086, Australia.
| | - Bircan Erbas
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, VIC 3086, Australia.
| | - Paul J Beggs
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | | | - Simon G Haberle
- Department of Archaeology and Natural History, College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - Rewi M Newnham
- School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
| | - Fay H Johnston
- The Menzies Institute for Medical Research at the University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
| | - Alison K Jaggard
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Bradley Campbell
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University of Queensland, QLD, Australia.
| | - Pamela K Burton
- Department of Medicine, Campbelltown, Hospital, NSW, Australia.
| | - Constance H Katelaris
- Campbelltown Hospital and the School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Macarthur, NSW, Australia.
| | - Ed Newbigin
- School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
| | - Michel Thibaudon
- European Aerobiology Society, Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique, 11 chemin de la Creuzille, 69690 Brussieu, France.
| | - Janet M Davies
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Centre for Children's Health Research, Queensland University of Technology, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia.
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24
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Molecular features of grass allergens and development of biotechnological approaches for allergy prevention. Biotechnol Adv 2017; 35:545-556. [PMID: 28535924 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2017.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Allergic diseases are characterized by elevated allergen-specific IgE and excessive inflammatory cell responses. Among the reported plant allergens, grass pollen and grain allergens, derived from agriculturally important members of the Poaceae family such as rice, wheat and barley, are the most dominant and difficult to prevent. Although many allergen homologs have been predicted from species such as wheat and timothy grass, fundamental aspects such as the evolution and function of plant pollen allergens remain largely unclear. With the development of genetic engineering and genomics, more primary sequences, functions and structures of plant allergens have been uncovered, and molecular component-based allergen-specific immunotherapies are being developed. In this review, we aim to provide an update on (i) the distribution and importance of pollen and grain allergens of the Poaceae family, (ii) the origin and evolution, and functional aspects of plant pollen allergens, (iii) developments of allergen-specific immunotherapy for pollen allergy using biotechnology and (iv) development of less allergenic plants using gene engineering techniques. We also discuss future trends in revealing fundamental aspects of grass pollen allergens and possible biotechnological approaches to reduce the amount of pollen allergens in grasses.
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