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de Weger LA, Verbeek C, Markey E, O'Connor DJ, Gosling WD. Greater difference between airborne and flower pollen chemistry, than between pollen collected across a pollution gradient in the Netherlands. Sci Total Environ 2024; 934:172963. [PMID: 38705300 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
The prevalence in allergic diseases has increased considerably in the past decades. An important trigger of the symptoms of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) is the pollen of wind-pollinating plants. This pollen is developed by plants and is released into the air where it gets exposed to environmental influences and air pollution. We investigated the chemical changes to pollen that occur after release from the flower in a rural (Veluwe) and an urban (Amsterdam) site in the Netherlands using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. During the spring/summer of 2020 (during the COVID pandemic) the pollen of nine taxa (Alnus, Betula, Fagus, Fraxinus, Pinus, Plantago, Poaceae, Quercus and Salix) were collected directly from flowers and the air (using a mobile sampler). FTIR spectra were obtained for multiple individual pollen grains for each taxa. The spectra obtained from airborne pollen collected at the rural vs. urban sites did not show any statistical difference. This is possibly a result of a reduced difference in pollutant concentrations between the two sites due to the COVID-19-lockdown measures were in place. However, consistent differences in the FTIR spectra recovered from airborne vs. flower pollen were recorded for all pollen taxa. After the release from the flower the chemical composition of the pollen changed: (i) polysaccharides are converted to monosaccharides; (ii) protein concentration and/or nitration/oxidation level is altered; (iii) lipids are modified and/or reduced in concentration. These changes may alter the allergenicity of the pollen and suggest that further work on the allergenic nature of airborne pollen is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letty A de Weger
- Leiden University Medical Center Department of Pulmonology and Department of Pulmonology and Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Cas Verbeek
- Institute for Biodiversity & Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Emma Markey
- School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David J O'Connor
- School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - William D Gosling
- Institute for Biodiversity & Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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2
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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. Sci Total Environ 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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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.
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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
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3
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de Weger LA, Bruffaerts N, Koenders MMJF, Verstraeten WW, Delcloo AW, Hentges P, Hentges F. Long-Term Pollen Monitoring in the Benelux: Evaluation of Allergenic Pollen Levels and Temporal Variations of Pollen Seasons. Front Allergy 2021; 2:676176. [PMID: 35387026 PMCID: PMC8974733 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2021.676176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Airborne pollen is a major cause of allergic rhinitis, affecting between 10 and 30% of the population in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg (Benelux). Allergenic pollen is produced by wind pollinating plants and released in relatively low to massive amounts. Current climate changes, in combination with increasing urbanization, are likely to affect the presence of airborne allergenic pollen with respect to exposure intensity, timing as well as duration. Detailed analysis of long-term temporal trends at supranational scale may provide more comprehensive insight into these phenomena. To this end, the Spearman correlation was used to statistically compare the temporal trends in airborne pollen concentration monitored at the aerobiological stations which gathered the longest time-series (30–44 years) in the Benelux with a focus on the allergenic pollen taxa: Alnus, Corylus, Betula, Fraxinus, Quercus, Platanus, Poaceae, and Artemisia. Most arboreal species showed an overall trend toward an increase in the annual pollen integral and peak values and an overall trend toward an earlier start and end of the pollen season, which for Betula resulted in a significant decrease in season length. For the herbaceous species (Poaceae and Artemisia), the annual pollen integral and peak values showed a decreasing trend. The season timing of Poaceae showed a trend toward earlier starts and longer seasons in all locations. In all, these results show that temporal variations in pollen levels almost always follow a common trend in the Benelux, suggesting a similar force of climate change-driven factors, especially for Betula where a clear positive correlation was found between changes in temperature and pollen release over time. However, some trends were more local-specific indicating the influence of other environmental factors, e.g., the increasing urbanization in the surroundings of these monitoring locations. The dynamics in the observed trends can impact allergic patients by increasing the severity of symptoms, upsetting the habit of timing of the season, complicating diagnosis due to overlapping pollen seasons and the emergence of new symptoms due allergens that were weak at first.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letty A. de Weger
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, National eHealth Living Lab, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Letty A. de Weger
| | | | | | - Willem W. Verstraeten
- Dispersion and Atmospheric Composition, Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Andy W. Delcloo
- Dispersion and Atmospheric Composition, Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre Hentges
- Aerobiology Data Analysis Consulting, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - François Hentges
- Unit of Immunology-Allergology, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
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4
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Polling M, Li C, Cao L, Verbeek F, de Weger LA, Belmonte J, De Linares C, Willemse J, de Boer H, Gravendeel B. Neural networks for increased accuracy of allergenic pollen monitoring. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11357. [PMID: 34059743 PMCID: PMC8166864 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90433-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Monitoring of airborne pollen concentrations provides an important source of information for the globally increasing number of hay fever patients. Airborne pollen is traditionally counted under the microscope, but with the latest developments in image recognition methods, automating this process has become feasible. A challenge that persists, however, is that many pollen grains cannot be distinguished beyond the genus or family level using a microscope. Here, we assess the use of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to increase taxonomic accuracy for airborne pollen. As a case study we use the nettle family (Urticaceae), which contains two main genera (Urtica and Parietaria) common in European landscapes which pollen cannot be separated by trained specialists. While pollen from Urtica species has very low allergenic relevance, pollen from several species of Parietaria is severely allergenic. We collect pollen from both fresh as well as from herbarium specimens and use these without the often used acetolysis step to train the CNN model. The models show that unacetolyzed Urticaceae pollen grains can be distinguished with > 98% accuracy. We then apply our model on before unseen Urticaceae pollen collected from aerobiological samples and show that the genera can be confidently distinguished, despite the more challenging input images that are often overlain by debris. Our method can also be applied to other pollen families in the future and will thus help to make allergenic pollen monitoring more specific.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chen Li
- Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lu Cao
- Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Fons Verbeek
- Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Letty A de Weger
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jordina Belmonte
- Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (ICTA-UAB), The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Concepción De Linares
- Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (ICTA-UAB), The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Joost Willemse
- Microbial Sciences, Institute of Biology, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hugo de Boer
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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5
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de Weger LA, van Hal PTW, Bos B, Molster F, Mostert M, Hiemstra PS. Personalized Pollen Monitoring and Symptom Scores: A Feasibility Study in Grass Pollen Allergic Patients. Front Allergy 2021; 2:628400. [PMID: 35387060 PMCID: PMC8974794 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2021.628400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Pollen is a major trigger for allergic symptoms in sensitized individuals. Airborne pollen is usually monitored by Hirst type pollen samplers located at rooftop level, providing a general overview of the pollen distribution in the larger surroundings. In this feasibility study, grass pollen-sensitized subjects monitored the pollen in their direct environment using a portable pollen sampler (Pollensniffer) and scored their symptoms, to study the relation between symptom severity and personal grass pollen exposure. For comparison the symptoms were also correlated with pollen collected by the rooftop sampler. Methods: After recruitment 18 participants were screened for grass pollen specific (GP-sIgE) of which 12 were eligible. Nine participants completed the study (May, 2018). They were asked to monitor personal pollen exposure using a Pollensniffer on their way to school, work or other destination, and to score their symptoms via a mobile app on a scale from 0 to 10. Daily pollen concentrations were collected by a Hirst type sampler at rooftop level. Pollen grains were analyzed using a microscope. Results: Three of the four participants with high GP-sIgE (≥9.6 kU/l) reported high symptom scores (>4) and an analysis showed a significant correlation (CC) between eye, nose, and lung symptoms and the grass pollen counts collected by the Pollensniffer, as well as the daily grass pollen concentrations monitored by the rooftop sampler (CC≥0.54). In contrast, the participants with low GP-sIgE levels (<9.6 kU/l) reported low symptom scores (≤4) and often other sensitizations were present. For these subjects, no significant positive correlations (CC<0.3) of symptoms with either grass pollen collected by the personal or the rooftop sampler were found. Conclusion: The results of this feasibility study suggest that correlations between the severity of clinical symptoms of grass pollen allergic patients, and grass pollen counts as determined by the Pollensniffer or a rooftop sampler, is restricted to patients with high GP-sIgE levels, high symptom scores, and no relevant other sensitizations. Based on the low numbers of subjects with severe symptoms included in this feasibility study, no conclusions can be drawn on the performance of the Pollensniffer in relating symptoms and pollen exposure in comparison with the rooftop sampler. Trial Registration: The study was approved by the Committee Medical Ethics of the LUMC (approval numbers: NL63953.058.17/ P17.304).
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Affiliation(s)
- Letty A. de Weger
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Letty A. de Weger
| | - Peter Th. W. van Hal
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Bernadette Bos
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Marijke Mostert
- Leiden Centre of Applied Bioscience, University of Applied Sciences, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Pieter S. Hiemstra
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
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6
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Kurganskiy A, Creer S, de Vere N, Griffith GW, Osborne NJ, Wheeler BW, McInnes RN, Clewlow Y, Barber A, Brennan GL, Hanlon HM, Hegarty M, Potter C, Rowney F, Adams-Groom B, Petch GM, Pashley CH, Satchwell J, de Weger LA, Rasmussen K, Oliver G, Sindt C, Bruffaerts N, Skjøth CA. Predicting the severity of the grass pollen season and the effect of climate change in Northwest Europe. Sci Adv 2021; 7:eabd7658. [PMID: 33771862 PMCID: PMC7997511 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd7658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Allergic rhinitis is an inflammation in the nose caused by overreaction of the immune system to allergens in the air. Managing allergic rhinitis symptoms is challenging and requires timely intervention. The following are major questions often posed by those with allergic rhinitis: How should I prepare for the forthcoming season? How will the season's severity develop over the years? No country yet provides clear guidance addressing these questions. We propose two previously unexplored approaches for forecasting the severity of the grass pollen season on the basis of statistical and mechanistic models. The results suggest annual severity is largely governed by preseasonal meteorological conditions. The mechanistic model suggests climate change will increase the season severity by up to 60%, in line with experimental chamber studies. These models can be used as forecasting tools for advising individuals with hay fever and health care professionals how to prepare for the grass pollen season.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simon Creer
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
| | - Natasha de Vere
- National Botanic Garden of Wales, Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire, UK
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
| | - Gareth W Griffith
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
| | - Nicholas J Osborne
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro TR1 3HD, UK
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Benedict W Wheeler
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro TR1 3HD, UK
| | | | | | | | - Georgina L Brennan
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Research/Aquatic Ecology, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Matthew Hegarty
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
| | - Caitlin Potter
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
| | - Francis Rowney
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro TR1 3HD, UK
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | | | - Geoff M Petch
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Worcester, UK
| | - Catherine H Pashley
- Aerobiology and Clinical Mycology, Dept. of Respiratory Sciences,Institute for Lung Health, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Jack Satchwell
- Aerobiology and Clinical Mycology, Dept. of Respiratory Sciences,Institute for Lung Health, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Letty A de Weger
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Gilles Oliver
- Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique (R.N.S.A.), Brussieu, France
| | - Charlotte Sindt
- Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique (R.N.S.A.), Brussieu, France
| | | | - Carsten A Skjøth
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Worcester, UK.
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7
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Amato-Lourenço LF, Dos Santos Galvão L, de Weger LA, Hiemstra PS, Vijver MG, Mauad T. An emerging class of air pollutants: Potential effects of microplastics to respiratory human health? Sci Total Environ 2020; 749:141676. [PMID: 32827829 PMCID: PMC7424328 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
It is increasingly recognized that the ubiquity of convenient single-use plastic has resulted in a global plastic pollution challenge, with substantial environmental and health consequences. Physical, chemical, and biological processes result in plastic weathering, with eventual formation of debris in the micro to nano size range. There is an increasing awareness that plastic fragments are dispersed in the air and can be inhaled by humans, which may cause adverse effects on the respiratory system and on other systems. Urban environments are often characterized by high concentrations of fine airborne dust from various sources. To date, however, there is limited information on the distribution, shape, and size of microplastics in the air in urban and other environments. In this article, we review and discuss our current understanding of the exposure characteristics of airborne plastic debris in urbanized areas, focusing on concentration, size, morphology, presence of additives and distributions of different polymers. The natural and extend data are compiled and compared to laboratory-based analyses to further our understanding of the potential adverse effects of inhaled plastic particles on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Fernando Amato-Lourenço
- Institute of Advanced Studies (IEA) Global Cities Program, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | | | - Letty A de Weger
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Pieter S Hiemstra
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Martina G Vijver
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Thais Mauad
- Institute of Advanced Studies (IEA) Global Cities Program, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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8
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de Weger LA, Molster F, de Raat K, den Haan J, Romein J, van Leeuwen W, de Groot H, Mostert M, Hiemstra PS. A new portable sampler to monitor pollen at street level in the environment of patients. Sci Total Environ 2020; 741:140404. [PMID: 32887011 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Allergic rhinitis caused by pollen exposure is one of the most common allergic diseases. Therefore monitoring pollen levels in ambient air is an important tool in research and health care. Most European monitoring stations collect airborne pollen at rooftop levels for measurements in the larger surrounding of the sampling station, and not in the direct environment of sensitized subjects. Here we present the development and evaluation of a portable pollen sampler, called "Pollensniffer", that was designed to collect pollen in the immediate environment of allergic subjects. Validation of the Pollensniffer against the standard volumetric pollen sampler showed for most pollen types high correlations between the number of pollen collected by those two devices (Spearman's Correlation Coefficient > 0.8); the Pollensniffer appeared to collect on average 5.8 times more pollen per hour than the static sampler. Pollen monitoring was performed using this Pollensniffer at street level at 3 different locations in the city of Leiden during 22 weeks in 2017 and 21 weeks in 2018, during three 15-min periods a day and at one day in the week. The results showed that the pollen levels for birch and grass pollen can significantly differ from location to location and per time of day. Furthermore, the Pollensniffer measurements at street level showed that birch and grass pollen grains were detected 1 1/2 and 2-3 weeks, respectively, before detection at rooftop level. The street measurements show that allergic subjects can encounter varying pollen levels throughout the city and that they can be exposed to grass and birch pollen and may experience hay fever symptoms, even before the sampler at rooftop level registers these pollen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letty A de Weger
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Frank Molster
- Leidse Instrumentmakers School, Einsteinweg 61, 2333 CC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Kevin de Raat
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jeffrey den Haan
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Johan Romein
- Leidse Instrumentmakers School, Einsteinweg 61, 2333 CC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Willem van Leeuwen
- University of Applied Sciences, Zernikedreef 11, 2333 CK Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Hans de Groot
- Department of Allergology, Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Reinier de Graafweg 5, 2625 AD Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Marijke Mostert
- University of Applied Sciences, Zernikedreef 11, 2333 CK Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Pieter S Hiemstra
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
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9
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Schaffner U, Steinbach S, Sun Y, Skjøth CA, de Weger LA, Lommen ST, Augustinus BA, Bonini M, Karrer G, Šikoparija B, Thibaudon M, Müller-Schärer H. Biological weed control to relieve millions from Ambrosia allergies in Europe. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1745. [PMID: 32317698 PMCID: PMC7174423 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15586-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive alien species (IAS) can substantially affect ecosystem services and human well-being. However, quantitative assessments of their impact on human health are rare and the benefits of implementing IAS management likely to be underestimated. Here we report the effects of the allergenic plant Ambrosia artemisiifolia on public health in Europe and the potential impact of the accidentally introduced leaf beetle Ophraella communa on the number of patients and healthcare costs. We find that, prior to the establishment of O. communa, some 13.5 million persons suffered from Ambrosia-induced allergies in Europe, causing costs of Euro 7.4 billion annually. Our projections reveal that biological control of A. artemisiifolia will reduce the number of patients by approximately 2.3 million and the health costs by Euro 1.1 billion per year. Our conservative calculations indicate that the currently discussed economic costs of IAS underestimate the real costs and thus also the benefits from biological control. Invasive plants can adversely affect ecosystems and economic costs. Here, the authors quantify the impact of the invasive plant Ambrosia artemisiifolia on seasonal allergies and health costs across Europe, finding that the costs are considerably higher than what previously reported, and estimate also the reduction in the number of patients and health costs that may be obtained with biological control
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandro Steinbach
- Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA.,Department of Management, Technology and Economics, ETH Zurich, 8006, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Yan Sun
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Carsten A Skjøth
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Worcester, WR2 6AJ, UK
| | - Letty A de Weger
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Suzanne T Lommen
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland.,Institute of Biology, Leiden University, 2333BE, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Benno A Augustinus
- CABI, 2800, Delémont, Switzerland.,Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Maira Bonini
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), 20122, Milano, Italy
| | - Gerhard Karrer
- Institute of Botany, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180, Vienna, Austria
| | - Branko Šikoparija
- BioSense Institute - Research Institute for Information Technologies in Biosystems, University of Novi Sad, 21101, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Michel Thibaudon
- French Network of Aerobiological Monitoring RNSA, 69690, Brussieu, France
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10
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Grundström M, Adams-Groom B, Pashley CH, Dahl Å, Rasmussen K, de Weger LA, Thibaudon M, Fernández-Rodríguez S, Silva-Palacios I, Skjøth CA. Oak pollen seasonality and severity across Europe and modelling the season start using a generalized phenological model. Sci Total Environ 2019; 663:527-536. [PMID: 30716644 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 12/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Oak pollen seasons are relatively unexplored in large parts of Europe despite producing allergens and being a common tree in both continental and northern parts. Many studies are concentrated only on the Iberian Peninsula. In this study, the seasonal pattern of oak pollen in Europe was analysed using 10 observation sites, ranging from Spain to Sweden. The magnitude of peaks and annual pollen integral together with season-length were studied and substantially higher pollen levels and longer seasons were found in Spain. Two northern sites in Denmark and Sweden showed high oak pollen peaks together with two sites in Spain and United Kingdom. The study also tested four common definitions of season start and applied a generalized phenological model for computing the start of the pollen season. The most accurate definition for a European-wide description of the observed oak pollen start was when the cumulative daily average pollen count reached 50 grains per cubic meter. For the modelling of the start a thermal time method based on Growing Degree Day (GDD) was implemented, utilizing daily temperatures and a generalized approach to identify model parameters applicable to all included sites. GDD values varied between sites and generally followed a decreasing gradient from south to north, with some exceptions. Modelled onsets with base temperatures below 7 °C matched well with observed onsets and 76% of the predictions differed ≤4 days compared to observed onsets when using a base temperature of 2 °C. Base temperatures above 7 °C frequently predicted onsets differing >1 week from the observed. This general approach can be extended to a larger area where pollen observations are non-existent. The presented work will increase the understanding of oak pollen variation in Europe and provide knowledge of its phenology, which is a critical aspect both for modelling purposes on large-scale and assessing the human exposure to oak allergens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grundström
- National Pollen and Aerobiological Research Unit, School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester WR2 6AJ, United Kingdom.
| | - Beverley Adams-Groom
- National Pollen and Aerobiological Research Unit, School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester WR2 6AJ, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine H Pashley
- Institute for Lung Health, Department of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Åslög Dahl
- University of Gothenburg, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, P.O. Box 461, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Karen Rasmussen
- Astma-Allergi Danmark, Universitetsparken 4, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Letty A de Weger
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300RC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Michel Thibaudon
- Reseau National de Surveillance Aerobiologique (R.N.S.A.), 11 chemin de la creuzille, Le Plat du Pin - 69690 Brussieu, France
| | - Santiago Fernández-Rodríguez
- Department of Construction, School of Technology, University of Extremadura, Avda. de la Universidad s/n, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Silva-Palacios
- Department of Construction, School of Technology, University of Extremadura, Avda. de la Universidad s/n, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Carsten A Skjøth
- National Pollen and Aerobiological Research Unit, School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester WR2 6AJ, United Kingdom
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11
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de Weger LA, Pashley CH, Šikoparija B, Skjøth CA, Kasprzyk I, Grewling Ł, Thibaudon M, Magyar D, Smith M. The long distance transport of airborne Ambrosia pollen to the UK and the Netherlands from Central and south Europe. Int J Biometeorol 2016; 60:1829-1839. [PMID: 27121466 PMCID: PMC5127884 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-016-1170-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Revised: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/09/2016] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The invasive alien species Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common or short ragweed) is increasing its range in Europe. In the UK and the Netherlands, airborne concentrations of Ambrosia pollen are usually low. However, more than 30 Ambrosia pollen grains per cubic metre of air (above the level capable to trigger allergic symptoms) were recorded in Leicester (UK) and Leiden (NL) on 4 and 5 September 2014. The aims of this study were to determine whether the highly allergenic Ambrosia pollen recorded during the episode could be the result of long distance transport, to identify the potential sources of these pollen grains and to describe the conditions that facilitated this possible long distance transport. Airborne Ambrosia pollen data were collected at 10 sites in Europe. Back trajectory and atmospheric dispersion calculations were performed using HYSPLIT_4. Back trajectories calculated at Leicester and Leiden show that higher altitude air masses (1500 m) originated from source areas on the Pannonian Plain and Ukraine. During the episode, air masses veered to the west and passed over the Rhône Valley. Dispersion calculations showed that the atmospheric conditions were suitable for Ambrosia pollen released from the Pannonian Plain and the Rhône Valley to reach the higher levels and enter the airstream moving to northwest Europe where they were deposited at ground level and recorded by monitoring sites. The study indicates that the Ambrosia pollen grains recorded during the episode in Leicester and Leiden were probably not produced by local sources but transported long distances from potential source regions in east Europe, i.e. the Pannonian Plain and Ukraine, as well as the Rhône Valley in France.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letty A de Weger
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Catherine H Pashley
- Institute for Lung Health, Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Branko Šikoparija
- Laboratory for Palynology, Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
- BioSense Institute, Research Institute for Information Technologies in Biosystems, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Carsten A Skjøth
- National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit, Institute of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester, UK
| | - Idalia Kasprzyk
- Department of Environmental Biology, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Łukasz Grewling
- Laboratory of Aeropalynology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Michel Thibaudon
- Reseau National de Surveillance Aerobiologique (RNSA), Brussieu, France
| | - Donat Magyar
- Department of Aerobiology and Air Hygiene, National Public Health Center, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Matt Smith
- Laboratory of Aeropalynology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
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12
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van der Leeuw S, van der Molen T, Dekhuijzen PNR, Fonseca JA, van Gemert FA, Gerth van Wijk R, Kocks JWH, Oosterom H, Riemersma RA, Tsiligianni IG, de Weger LA, Oude Elberink JNG, Flokstra-de Blok BMJ. The minimal clinically important difference of the Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT): cross-cultural validation and relation with pollen counts. NPJ Prim Care Respir Med 2015; 25:14107. [PMID: 25569880 PMCID: PMC4532148 DOI: 10.1038/npjpcrm.2014.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Revised: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT) monitors control of asthma and allergic rhinitis. AIMS To determine the CARAT's minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Dutch CARAT. METHODS CARAT was applied in three measurements at 1-month intervals. Patients diagnosed with asthma and/or rhinitis were approached. MCID was evaluated using Global Rating of Change (GRC) and standard error of measurement (s.e.m.). Cronbach's alpha was used to evaluate internal consistency. Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated between CARAT, the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ5) and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) on airway symptoms to determine construct and longitudinal validity. Test-retest reliability was evaluated with intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Changes in pollen counts were compared with delta CARAT and ACQ5 scores. RESULTS A total of 92 patients were included. The MCID of the CARAT was 3.50 based on GRC scores; the s.e.m. was 2.83. Cronbach's alpha was 0.82. Correlation coefficients between CARAT and ACQ5 and VAS questions ranged from 0.64 to 0.76 (P < 0.01). Longitudinally, correlation coefficients between delta CARAT scores and delta ACQ5 and VAS scores ranged from 0.41 to 0.67 (P < 0.01). Test-retest reliability showed an ICC of 0.81 (P < 0.01) and 0.80 (P < 0.01). Correlations with pollen counts were higher for CARAT than for ACQ5. CONCLUSIONS This is the first investigation of the MCID of the CARAT. The CARAT uses a whole-point scale, which suggests that the MCID is 4 points. The CARAT is a valid and reliable tool that is also applicable in the Dutch population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sander van der Leeuw
- Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Thys van der Molen
- Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - PN Richard Dekhuijzen
- Department of Pulmonology, University Medical Center St Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Joao A Fonseca
- Department of Health Information and Decision Sciences, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Frederik A van Gemert
- Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Roy Gerth van Wijk
- Department of Internal Medicine—Allergology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Janwillem WH Kocks
- Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Helma Oosterom
- Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Roland A Riemersma
- Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ioanna G Tsiligianni
- Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Letty A de Weger
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Joanne NG Oude Elberink
- GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Allergology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bertine MJ Flokstra-de Blok
- Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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13
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Donders TH, Hagemans K, Dekker SC, de Weger LA, de Klerk P, Wagner-Cremer F. Region-specific sensitivity of anemophilous pollen deposition to temperature and precipitation. PLoS One 2014; 9:e104774. [PMID: 25133631 PMCID: PMC4136776 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding relations between climate and pollen production is important for several societal and ecological challenges, importantly pollen forecasting for pollinosis treatment, forensic studies, global change biology, and high-resolution palaeoecological studies of past vegetation and climate fluctuations. For these purposes, we investigate the role of climate variables on annual-scale variations in pollen influx, test the regional consistency of observed patterns, and evaluate the potential to reconstruct high-frequency signals from sediment archives. A 43-year pollen-trap record from the Netherlands is used to investigate relations between annual pollen influx, climate variables (monthly and seasonal temperature and precipitation values), and the North Atlantic Oscillation climate index. Spearman rank correlation analysis shows that specifically in Alnus, Betula, Corylus, Fraxinus, Quercus and Plantago both temperature in the year prior to (T-1), as well as in the growing season (T), are highly significant factors (TApril rs between 0.30 [P<0.05[ and 0.58 [P<0.0001]; TJuli-1 rs between 0.32 [P<0.05[ and 0.56 [P<0.0001]) in the annual pollen influx of wind-pollinated plants. Total annual pollen prediction models based on multiple climate variables yield R2 between 0.38 and 0.62 (P<0.0001). The effect of precipitation is minimal. A second trapping station in the SE Netherlands, shows consistent trends and annual variability, suggesting the climate factors are regionally relevant. Summer temperature is thought to influence the formation of reproductive structures, while temperature during the flowering season influences pollen release. This study provides a first predictive model for seasonal pollen forecasting, and also aides forensic studies. Furthermore, variations in pollen accumulation rates from a sub-fossil peat deposit are comparable with the pollen trap data. This suggests that high frequency variability pollen records from natural archives reflect annual past climate variability, and can be used in palaeoecological and -climatological studies to bridge between population- and species-scale responses to climate forcing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timme H. Donders
- Palaeoecology, Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Laboratory of Palaeobotany and Palynology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Kimberley Hagemans
- Palaeoecology, Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Laboratory of Palaeobotany and Palynology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Copernicus Institute, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan C. Dekker
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Copernicus Institute, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Letty A. de Weger
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Pim de Klerk
- Botany section, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Friederike Wagner-Cremer
- Palaeoecology, Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Laboratory of Palaeobotany and Palynology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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de Weger LA, Beerthuizen T, Hiemstra PS, Sont JK. Development and validation of a 5-day-ahead hay fever forecast for patients with grass-pollen-induced allergic rhinitis. Int J Biometeorol 2014; 58:1047-1055. [PMID: 23780494 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-013-0692-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2013] [Revised: 05/15/2013] [Accepted: 05/30/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
One-third of the Dutch population suffers from allergic rhinitis, including hay fever. In this study, a 5-day-ahead hay fever forecast was developed and validated for grass pollen allergic patients in the Netherlands. Using multiple regression analysis, a two-step pollen and hay fever symptom prediction model was developed using actual and forecasted weather parameters, grass pollen data and patient symptom diaries. Therefore, 80 patients with a grass pollen allergy rated the severity of their hay fever symptoms during the grass pollen season in 2007 and 2008. First, a grass pollen forecast model was developed using the following predictors: (1) daily means of grass pollen counts of the previous 10 years; (2) grass pollen counts of the previous 2-week period of the current year; and (3) maximum, minimum and mean temperature (R (2)=0.76). The second modeling step concerned the forecasting of hay fever symptom severity and included the following predictors: (1) forecasted grass pollen counts; (2) day number of the year; (3) moving average of the grass pollen counts of the previous 2 week-periods; and (4) maximum and mean temperatures (R (2)=0.81). Since the daily hay fever forecast is reported in three categories (low-, medium- and high symptom risk), we assessed the agreement between the observed and the 1- to 5-day-ahead predicted risk categories by kappa, which ranged from 65 % to 77 %. These results indicate that a model based on forecasted temperature and grass pollen counts performs well in predicting symptoms of hay fever up to 5 days ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letty A de Weger
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, Albinusdreef 2, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands,
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15
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Kraaijeveld K, de Weger LA, Ventayol García M, Buermans H, Frank J, Hiemstra PS, den Dunnen JT. Efficient and sensitive identification and quantification of airborne pollen using next-generation DNA sequencing. Mol Ecol Resour 2014; 15:8-16. [DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2013] [Revised: 05/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ken Kraaijeveld
- Human and Clinical Genetics; Leiden Genome Technology Center; Leiden University Medical Center; PO Box 9600 2300RC Leiden The Netherlands
- Bioinformatics; University of Applied Sciences Leiden; Zernikedreef 11 2333CK Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Letty A. de Weger
- Department of Pulmonology; Leiden University Medical Center; PO Box 9600 2300RC Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Marina Ventayol García
- Human and Clinical Genetics; Leiden Genome Technology Center; Leiden University Medical Center; PO Box 9600 2300RC Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Henk Buermans
- Human and Clinical Genetics; Leiden Genome Technology Center; Leiden University Medical Center; PO Box 9600 2300RC Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Frank
- Human and Clinical Genetics; Leiden Genome Technology Center; Leiden University Medical Center; PO Box 9600 2300RC Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Pieter S. Hiemstra
- Department of Pulmonology; Leiden University Medical Center; PO Box 9600 2300RC Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Johan T. den Dunnen
- Human and Clinical Genetics; Leiden Genome Technology Center; Leiden University Medical Center; PO Box 9600 2300RC Leiden The Netherlands
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16
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Ziello C, Sparks TH, Estrella N, Belmonte J, Bergmann KC, Bucher E, Brighetti MA, Damialis A, Detandt M, Galán C, Gehrig R, Grewling L, Gutiérrez Bustillo AM, Hallsdóttir M, Kockhans-Bieda MC, De Linares C, Myszkowska D, Pàldy A, Sánchez A, Smith M, Thibaudon M, Travaglini A, Uruska A, Valencia-Barrera RM, Vokou D, Wachter R, de Weger LA, Menzel A. Changes to airborne pollen counts across Europe. PLoS One 2012; 7:e34076. [PMID: 22514618 PMCID: PMC3325983 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2011] [Accepted: 02/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A progressive global increase in the burden of allergic diseases has affected the industrialized world over the last half century and has been reported in the literature. The clinical evidence reveals a general increase in both incidence and prevalence of respiratory diseases, such as allergic rhinitis (common hay fever) and asthma. Such phenomena may be related not only to air pollution and changes in lifestyle, but also to an actual increase in airborne quantities of allergenic pollen. Experimental enhancements of carbon dioxide (CO[Formula: see text]) have demonstrated changes in pollen amount and allergenicity, but this has rarely been shown in the wider environment. The present analysis of a continental-scale pollen data set reveals an increasing trend in the yearly amount of airborne pollen for many taxa in Europe, which is more pronounced in urban than semi-rural/rural areas. Climate change may contribute to these changes, however increased temperatures do not appear to be a major influencing factor. Instead, we suggest the anthropogenic rise of atmospheric CO[Formula: see text] levels may be influential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Ziello
- Technische Universität München, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany.
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17
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de Weger LA, Beerthuizen T, Gast-Strookman JM, van der Plas DT, Terreehorst I, Hiemstra PS, Sont JK. Difference in symptom severity between early and late grass pollen season in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Clin Transl Allergy 2011; 1:18. [PMID: 22410160 PMCID: PMC3339365 DOI: 10.1186/2045-7022-1-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2011] [Accepted: 12/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND For the development of forecasts for seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms, it is essential to understand the relationship between grass pollen concentrations and the symptoms of grass pollen allergic patients. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to delineate this relationship between seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms and grass pollen concentrations in the Netherlands. METHODS Grass pollen allergic patients (n = 80 [2007] - 84 [2008]) were enrolled into the study. They were asked to enter their seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms (runny nose, sneezing, blocked nose, post nasal drip, and eye symptoms) daily on a scale from 0 to 3 to the study centre either by short message service (SMS) or by internet from May-July 2007 and April-July 2008. Daily pollen counts were used to define the early and the late grass pollen season as the period 'before and during' respectively 'after' the first grass pollen peak (more than 150 pollen/m3). RESULTS At similar grass pollen concentrations, the daily mean of the individual maximum symptom scores reported in the early season were higher as compared to that reported in the late season [differences of -0.41 (2007) and -0.30 (2008)]. This difference could not be explained by medication use by the patients nor by co-sensitization to birch. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms at similar grass pollen concentrations are more severe in the early flowering season as compared to those in the late flowering season. This finding is not only relevant for development of forecasts for seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms but also for understanding symptom development and planning and analysis of clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letty A de Weger
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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18
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Landsmeer SH, Hendriks EA, de Weger LA, Reiber JH, Stoel BC. Detection of pollen grains in multifocal optical microscopy images of air samples. Microsc Res Tech 2009; 72:424-30. [DOI: 10.1002/jemt.20688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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19
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de Weger LA, van der Linden AC, Terreehorst I, van der Slikke WJ, van Vliet AJH, Hiemstra PS. [Ambrosia in the Netherlands. Allergic sensitisation and the distribution of plants and pollen]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2009; 153:798-803. [PMID: 19469212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
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20
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de Weger LA, Hiemstra PS. [The effect of climate change on pollen allergy in the Netherlands]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2009; 153:A1410. [PMID: 20025786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Climate change can exert a range of effects on pollen, which might have consequences for pollen-allergic patients. New allergenic pollen types might appear in the Netherlands, like common ragweed and olive, which result in allergy patients developing allergies that scarcely occur in the Netherlands at present. Trees, such as birches and planes, might produce larger quantities of pollen, which could result in more severe symptoms. The pollen season might become longer thereby extending the period in which patients suffer from allergy symptoms. This extension of the pollen season could be due to a prolonged flowering period of certain species, e.g. grasses, or the appearance of new species that flower in late summer, e.g. common ragweed. Climate change could cause an increase in heavy thunderstorms on summer days in the grass pollen season, which are known to increase the chance of asthma exacerbations.
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van Peer R, Punte HLM, de Weger LA, Schippers B. Characterization of Root Surface and Endorhizosphere Pseudomonads in Relation to Their Colonization of Roots. Appl Environ Microbiol 1990; 56:2462-2470. [PMID: 16348258 PMCID: PMC184749 DOI: 10.1128/aem.56.8.2462-2470.1990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
An extensive colonization of the endorhizosphere by fluorescent pseudomonads was observed in tomato plants grown on artificial substrates. These studies reveal that a significantly higher percentage of pseudomonads obtained from the endorhizosphere (30%) reduced plant growth than those obtained from the root surface (4%). Lipopolysaccharide patterns, cell envelope protein patterns, and other biochemical characteristics indicated that
Pseudomonas
isolates obtained from the endorhizosphere are distinct from
Pseudomonas
isolates obtained from the root surface. Isolates from the endorhizosphere especially were able to recolonize the endorhizosphere of both sterile and nonsterile tomato roots. The ability of the endorhizosphere isolates to colonize the endorhizosphere significantly correlated with their agglutination by tomato root agglutinin but did not correlate with chemotaxis to seed exudates of tomato. No correlation between colonization of the endorhizosphere and agglutination by root agglutinin could be demonstrated for the root surface isolates. We propose that agglutination of specific
Pseudomonas
strains by root agglutinin is of importance in the initial phase of adherence of bacteria to the root surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ron van Peer
- Willie Commelin Scholten Phytopathological Laboratory, Department of Plant Pathology, State University of Utrecht, Javalaan 20, 3742 CP Baarn, and Department of Plant Molecular Biology, Leiden University, 2311 VJ Leiden, The Netherlands
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