Aerobiological and ecological study of the potentially allergenic ornamental plants in south Spain

Velasco-Jiménez, M. J.; Alcázar, Pilar; Valle, Ana M.; Trigo, M.M.; Minero, Francisco José González; Domínguez-Vilches, Eugenio; Galán, Carmen

doi:10.1007/s10453-013-9311-5

Cited by 36 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Impact of pollen on the quality of life is associated with both pollen load in a territory (Fereidouni et al 2010;Velasco-Jiménez et al 2014) and lifestyle (Kiotseridis et al 2013;Lâm et al 2014). Lithuania belongs to the group of countries in which pollen of It was demonstrated in the study carried out during 2013-2014 that pollen concentrations in adjacent years can be significantly different, and prevention of diseases associated with airborne pollen becomes more difficult due to this factor.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…This can be one of the crucial reasons predetermining significant differences in Corylus pollen concentrations among the study locations. Poaceae pollen levels are associated with the planting peculiarities of urban regions (Velasco-Jiménez et al 2014), and Vilnius is distinguished from other study locations by large green areas with lots of meadow grasses. It has been demonstrated on numerous occasions that vegetative coverage was a direct influence on the pollen load Thibaudon et al 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The impact of pollen load on quality of life: a questionnaire-based study in Lithuania

et al. 2015

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Populations worldwide have been increasingly affected by allergic rhinitis associated with pollen allergens. Alterations in the geographical distribution of pollinating flora resulting from climatic changes and increased production of pollens caused by higher atmospheric CO 2 , have changed the environment in which humans reside. This study, carried out in Lithuania, aimed to demonstrate how people with pollen allergy are affected by symptoms associated with changing pollen loads and to evaluate the resultant changes in human quality of life. This study assessed pollen loads in Lithuania during 2013-2014. Skin prick tests were carried out on 665 individuals aiming to evaluate sensitivity to pollen allergens. Selfreports on symptoms and their impact on quality of life were collected from each study subject. There were 249 to 429 differences in inter-annual peaks of Betula pollen concentrations, while differences of plant pollen concentrations of the other genus/families varied from 1.5 to 92 % on peak days. Positive reactions to pollen allergens were reported in 54 % of the study subjects; 90 % of these subjects had been continuously suffering from moderate-to-severe symptoms of allergic rhinitis. The most frequently reported symptoms were sneezing (99 %), runny nose (98 %) and stuffy nose (97 %). The dominant group of subjects reported symptoms during the entire period of vegetation (7 months). This study demonstrated that people with pollen allergies have attributed symptomassociated worsening of their quality of life to the typical periods of unavoidable exposure and have made only minimal changes in their lifestyle during the season of pollen load.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of pollen load on quality of life: a questionnaire-based study in Lithuania

et al. 2015

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“…Moreover, unlike in other suggested approaches (Hruska, 2003; Ogren 2000, 2003; Matyasovszky and Makra, 2012), the quantitative score generated for each species can be fine‐tuned as a function of the importance of that species as a major allergen in a given area. This resource helps to unify and standardize the abundant yet scattered information available on the allergenicity of urban ornamental flora (Ciferri et al, 2006; Hruska, 2003; Ianovici, 2007; Lorenzoni‐Chiesura et al, 2000; Matyasovszky and Makra, 2012; Staffolani et al, 2011; Velasco Jiménez et al, 2014) and may, thus, be useful in any other area in which bioclimatic conditions lead to similar plant phenological and reproductive behavior (Raven, 1973). Finally, unlike other complex approaches to modeling airborne BPM levels (e.g., Helbig et al, 2004), the system outlined here is readily applicable, even by the layman.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Allergen Emission Sources in Urban Areas

et al. 2016

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Pollen released by urban flora-a major contributor to airborne allergen content during the pollen season-has a considerable adverse impact on human health. Using aerobiological techniques to sample and characterize airborne biological particulate matter (BPM), we can identify the main species contributing to the pollen spectrum and chart variations in counts and overall pollen dynamics throughout the year. However, given the exponential increase in the number of pollen allergy sufferers in built-up areas, new strategies are required to improve the biological quality of urban air. This paper reports on a novel characterization of the potential allergenicity of the tree species most commonly used as ornamentals in Mediterranean cities. Values were assigned to each species based on a number of intrinsic features including pollination strategy, pollen season duration, and allergenic capacity as reported in the specialist literature. Findings were used to generate a database in which groups of conifers, broadleaves, and palm trees were assigned a value of between 0 and 36, enabling their allergenicity to be rated as nil, low, moderate, high, or very high. The case study presented here focuses on the city of Granada in southern Spain. The major airborne-pollen-producing species were identified and the allergenicity of species growing in urban green zones was estimated. Corrective measures are proposed to prevent high allergen levels and thus improve biological air quality.

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“…Platanus pollen exceeded 1 % of the total in all locations, but only in Córdoba and Seville did it exceed 10 %, reflecting the predominant use of this species as a shade tree (Alcázar et al 2004(Alcázar et al , 2011Velasco-Jiménez et al 2013). Morus pollen exceeded 1 % in Córdoba and Seville, where it is used as an ornamental (Velasco-Jiménez et al 2013). Palmae pollen exceeds 1 % of the total in Almería, Cádiz, Huelva and Seville, where palms are widely planted to line streets and avenues.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…The highest Cupressaceae concentrations in Andalusia were recorded in Granada followed by Córdoba, due to the greater abundance of this tree there (Cariñanos et al 2014). Platanus pollen exceeded 1 % of the total in all locations, but only in Córdoba and Seville did it exceed 10 %, reflecting the predominant use of this species as a shade tree (Alcázar et al 2004(Alcázar et al , 2011Velasco-Jiménez et al 2013). Morus pollen exceeded 1 % in Córdoba and Seville, where it is used as an ornamental (Velasco-Jiménez et al 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Pollen calendars: a guide to common airborne pollen in Andalusia

et al. 2015

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This paper presents pollen calendars for the capital cities of the eight provinces of Andalusia (south of Spain) based on the airborne pollen counts recorded in a 10-year historical database. Pollen calendars are useful in the prevention and diagnosis of hay fever, in that they enable the timing and severity of the pollen season to be clearly defined. The differences encountered-in terms of both pollen spectra and the length and timing of the pollen season (start date, peak date, peak concentration and end date)-highlight not only the considerable diversity of urban landscapes in the eight Andalusian cities, but also the effect of urban green areas and periurban landscapes on airborne pollen levels. Green areas should be designed with a view to promoting benefits for the local population and avoiding the problems associated with the massive use of allergenic plants.

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Aerobiological and ecological study of the potentially allergenic ornamental plants in south Spain

Cited by 36 publications

References 28 publications

The impact of pollen load on quality of life: a questionnaire-based study in Lithuania

The impact of pollen load on quality of life: a questionnaire-based study in Lithuania

Characterization of Allergen Emission Sources in Urban Areas

Pollen calendars: a guide to common airborne pollen in Andalusia

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