Grass pollen in the atmosphere of Melbourne: Seasonal distribution over nine years

Ong, Eng Kok; Singh, Mohan B.; Knox, R. B.

doi:10.1080/00173139509429034

Cited by 45 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…European studies have shown that fine particles associated with air pollution can interact with allergenic pollen, possibly modifying the release of allergens (Behrendt et al 1992). The precise origin of such airborne fine particles is unknown, but allergens derived from pollen can be associated with fine particles in the atmosphere (Spieksma et al 1995, Emberlin 1995, Ong et al 1995a, Knox et al 1997. Unlike pollen grains, micronic particles are small enough to enter the human airways and cause allergic reactions in distal parts of the lungs (Bates et al 1966, Wilson et al 1993).…”

Section: Pollen Allergens and Micronic Particlesmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Many different kinds of pollen are allergenic, and they show a characteristic seasonal pattern of appearance in temperate climates (Ong et al 1995b). In winter and early spring, tree pollen (e.g., alder, ash, birch, cypress, elm, olive, pine) is the predominant type of pollen in the air in Melbourne, followed by the major source of airborne pollen, grasses in spring and early summer, and weeds in autumn.…”

Section: Micronic Particles From Other Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the cooltemperate climate of the Melbourne region, ryegrass (Lolium perenne) pollen is more abundant than pollen from other grass species (Smart and Knox 1979, Smart et al 1979, Ong et al 1995b) since ryegrass is grown extensively as pasture grass and has a very high pollen output. The allergenic spectrum of ryegrass contains more than 17 allergens ranging in molecular mass from 12 to 89 kDa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Localisation of allergens in ryegrass pollen and in airborne micronic particles

1999

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Summary. In Melbourne, Australia, grass pollen allergens, especially from ryegrass, are a major cause of allergic hayfever and asthma. This review outlines recent developments in our understanding of how grass pollen allergens find their way into the atmosphere and how they are transported in particulate form. Much of this work has relied on antibody technology in immunological and immunocytochemical investigations. The localisation of allergens in situ has proved difficult due to their water-soluble character. Recently, allergens have been localised in developing ryegrass pollen by dryfixation, rapid-freeze and freeze-substitution techniques. This involved anthers being substituted in a mixture of aldehydes, organic solvents, and 2,2-dimethoxypropane. Incubation in dimethylsulfoxide prior to embedding in LR Gold resin provided good infiltration with freeze-substituted material. Immunogold-labelled sections show that the major allergens, Lol p 1 and Lol p 5, are synthesised in the pollen cytoplasm from the early bicellular stage, soon after the first starch granules are formed. From the early tricellular stage, Lol p 5 moves into the starch granules where it remains until maturity. Lol p 1 is localised in the cytoplasm of mature pollen grains. The incidence of airborne grass pollen, as measured in pollen traps, correlates with hayfever symptoms. Forecasting models which rely on rainfall and temperature data have been produced for the grass pollen (daily and seasonal) counts in Melbourne. Research over the past six years has shed light on the causes of grass-pollen-induced asthma. Micronic particles in the atmosphere may be starch granules originating from pollen grains osmotically ruptured by rainwater. Ultrastructural and immunological characterisation of micronic particles colIected from outdoor air filters confirm the presence of airborne starch granules. These are loaded with grass pollen allergens, occur in the atmosphere especially after rainfall, and correlate significantly with instances of allergic asthma. Diesel particles might also play a role in the transmission of grass pollen allergens and thus become an extra asthma trigger. A variation in the mode of release of micronic particles occurs in other species, such as birch, where such particles are derived from burst birch pollen tubes. These particles are positive for Bet v 1 and are starch granules which are released into the atmosphere after light rain as a result of pollen germination on, e.g., leaves. After subsequent rupture of pollen tubes their contents are released when conditions become drier.

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Section: Pollen Allergens and Micronic Particlesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Micronic Particles From Other Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Localisation of allergens in ryegrass pollen and in airborne micronic particles

1999

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“…Pollen grains are an important cause of respiratory allergy. Seasonal and diurnal changes in the concentration of airborne pollen grains and fungal spores, including those which are allergenically significant, are generally monitored by means of volumetric spore traps (Malik et al 1991, Ong et al 1995, Cosentino et al 1995, Jäger et al 1996. The dispersal of airborne fungal spores on Indian farms has already been studied both volumetrically (Sreeramulu & Ramalingam 1966, Atluri et al 1988) and qualitatively (Uddin & Chakraverty 1995) in relation to the occurrence and spread of plant disease.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Airborne allergenic pollen grains on a farm in West Bengal, India

Chakraborty

Gupta‐Bhattacharya

Chakraborty

et al. 1998

Grana

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“…The variation is largely accounted for by concomitant variations in densities of grass pollen (Table II). Even so, Brisbane values of grass pollen are considerably less than those reported for Melbourne (up to 549 grains/m 3 , Ong et al 1995b) and Sydney (up to 462 grains/m 3 , Bass et al 1997). Pollen Calendar.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Airborne pollen of Brisbane, Australia: A five-year record, 1994 - 1999

Green¹,

Dettmann²,

Rutherford³

et al. 2002

Grana

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. The seasonal incidence of pollen in the atmosphere of Brisbane has been established from a near ± continuous, volumetric trapping program over the ve-year period, July 1994 ± June 1999. Grass pollen accounts for 71.6% of the average annual pollen load with highest densities (up to 150 grains/m 3 ) recorded in summer and autumn. Signi cant contributions were also made by taxa of the Cupressaceae (8.7%) and Urticaceae (1.8%) during spring and of the Pinaceae (4.5%) during winter. Pollen seasons of the Casuarinaceae (6.5%) and Myrtaceae (3.2%) are more extended, the former peaking in late winter and the latter in late spring. The onset and duration of the Poaceae and Urticaceae seasons varied from year to year, being later when precipitation levels were low in the late spring ± early summer months.Total pollen numbers and grass pollen densities are substantially less than those recorded from southern Australia. Nevertheless, respiratory disease in Brisbane affects up to 10% of the population, and airborne pollen of Poaceae, Urticaceae, Cupressaceae, Pinaceae, and Myrtaceae have been implicated in the release of allergens.

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Grass pollen in the atmosphere of Melbourne: Seasonal distribution over nine years

Cited by 45 publications

References 19 publications

Localisation of allergens in ryegrass pollen and in airborne micronic particles

Localisation of allergens in ryegrass pollen and in airborne micronic particles

Airborne allergenic pollen grains on a farm in West Bengal, India

Airborne pollen of Brisbane, Australia: A five-year record, 1994 - 1999

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