Estimation of the Allergenic Potential of Urban Trees and Urban Parks: Towards the Healthy Design of Urban Green Spaces of the Future

Abstract

The impact of allergens emitted by urban green spaces on health is one of the main disservices of ecosystems. The objective of this work is to establish the potential allergenic value of some tree species in urban environments, so that the allergenicity of green spaces can be estimated through application of the Index of Urban Green Zones Allergenicity (IUGZA). Multiple types of green spaces in Mediterranean cities were selected for the estimation of IUGZ. The results show that some of the ornamental species native to the Mediterranean are among the main causative agents of allergy in the population; in particular, Oleaceae, Cupressaceae, Fagaceae, and Platanus hispanica. Variables of the strongest impact on IUGZA were the bioclimatic characteristics of the territory and design aspects, such as the density of trees and the number of species. We concluded that the methodology to assess the allergenicity associated with urban trees and urban areas presented in this work opens new perspectives in the design and planning of urban green spaces, pointing out the need to consider the potential allergenicity of a species when selecting plant material to be used in cities. Only then can urban green areas be inclusive spaces, in terms of public health.

Enhancing the circular economy with nature-based solutions in the built urban environment: green building materials, systems and sites

“…In addition to providing ecosystem services, however, the establishment and restoration of planted areas in the midst of buildings may increase the exposure of residents to allergenic material, mostly from vegetation pollen. A list of allergenicity of common tree species is available, and should be taken into account when building or restoring urban green spaces (Cariñanos et al 2019). High vegetation density, although a bonus for biodiversity, may increase some people's sense of insecurity, and thus should be evaluated for each case.…”

Urban Ecosystem Disservices in the Global South

“…However, this categorisation needs to be expanded to embrace those of non-biological origin, such as floods or wildfires. The first group includes the negative effects caused by BVOC emissions, pollen-related allergies and asthma (Arnold 2012;Cariñanos et al 2017Cariñanos et al , 2019Cariñanos et al , 2020, vector-spread diseases such as Lyme disease, avian influenza and rabies (Lyytimäki et al 2008;Lyytimäki and Sipilä 2009;Escobedo et al 2011) and insect bites and animal attacks (Del Toro et al 2012;Barua et al 2013).…”

A Survey of Multiple Interactions Between Plants and the Urban Environment

“…i Potgieter (2019). j Cariñanos et al (2018Cariñanos et al ( , 2019, Dobbs et al (2014), Goldstein and Galbally (2007), Grote et al (2016), Kasprzyk et al (2019), Loreto et al (2009), Potgieter (2019), Shackleton et al (2015), von Döhren and Haase (2019), and Zhao et al (2018). k Dobbs et al (2011), Lyytimäki and Sipilä (2009), Potgieter (2019), Shackleton et al (2015), von Döhren and Haase (2019).…”

“…Allergic reactions to pollen or other substances released by plants (from irritation of the eyes and skin to severe asthmatic reactions) are becoming common among urban residents. Such allergies might have a great impact on health and generate environmental and socio-economic costs (Dobbs et al, 2014;Grote et al, 2016;Cariñanos et al, 2018Cariñanos et al, , 2019Kasprzyk et al, 2019;von Döhren and Haase, 2019).…”