Atmospheric pollutants and their association with olive and grass aeroallergen concentrations in Córdoba (Spain)

Abstract

Cumulative data indicate that pollen grains and air pollution reciprocally interact. Climate changes seem also to influence pollen allergenicity. Depending on the plant species and on the pollutant type and concentration, this interaction may modify the features and metabolism of the pollen grain. Previous results revealed a significant positive correlation between pollen and aeroallergen, even using two different samplers. However, some discrepancy days have been also detected with low pollen but high aeroallergen concentrations. The main aim of the present paper is to find how the environmental factors, and specially pollutants, could affect the amount of allergens from olive and grass airborne pollen. Pollen grains were collected by a Hirst-type volumetric spore trap. Aeroallergen was simultaneously sampled by a low-volume Cyclone Burkard sampler. Phl p 5 and Ole e 1 aeroallergen were quantified by double-sandwich ELISA test. The data related to air pollutants, pollen grains, and aeroallergens were analyzed with descriptive statistic. Spearman’s correlation test was used to identify potential correlations between these variables. There is a significant positive correlation between aeroallergens and airborne pollen concentrations, in both studied pollen types, so allergen concentrations could be explained with the pollen concentration. The days with unlinked events coincide between olive and grass allergens. Nevertheless, concerning to our results, pollutants do not affect the amount of allergens per pollen. Even if diverse pollutants show an unclear relationship with the allergen concentration, this association seems to be a casual effect of the leading role of some meteorological parameters.

Seasonal variation in the allergenic potency of airborne grass pollen in Bratislava (Slovakia) urban environment

“…Notwithstanding, this was not confirmed in our study. Similarly to Plaza et al (2020), we indicated that ozone has even a significant negative relationship with grass pollen potency. However, this connection is probably due to the impact of weather conditions as air temperature and UV radiation affect ozone formation (Stathopoulou et al 2008).…”

“…In general, high airborne grass pollen concentrations are associated with warm and dry days (Plaza et al 2020). However, the significant relationships observed in the present study were only those between airborne pollen concentration and precipitation or relative air humidity, albeit the relationships were negative.…”

Changes in qualitative and quantitative traits of birch (Betula pendula) pollen allergenic proteins in relation to the pollution contamination

“…Plant protective response may include an increase in antioxidant enzymes and metabolites and induction of protection-related secondary metabolite genes especially flavonoids (Rezanejad 2009 ; Galveias et al 2021 ). Therefore, not only the pollen and aeroallergens’ concentration in the air suggested by many authors (Buters et al 2012 ; Plaza et al 2020 ) should be considered while exposure reliably estimation but also the features of allergenic proteins, like Bet v1 released from pollen, developing in polluted areas.…”

Intercomparison of Indoor and Outdoor Pollen Concentrations in Rural and Suburban Research Workplaces

“…Many epidemiological and research studies in the literature have focused on potential interactions between chemical pollutants (e.g., ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide), particulate matter including PM 10 , PM 2,5 and airborne particles, showing the relevant effects of air pollutants on bioaerosol properties [13,14,[28][29][30][31].…”

“…In this regard, important alterations have been reported in the biological and reproduction functions of pollen (e.g., decrease in pollen germination and survival) and modifications of pollen surface characteristics, and in addition pollutants seem to act as adjuvants to pollen allergens enhancing their potential health risks [13,14,[28][29][30]. Prominent studies have shown that air pollutants might adhere on pollen surface damaging pollen cell membranes, with a significant number of allergens released into the environment [14,32,33].…”