In vitro exposure of Ostrya carpinifolia and Carpinus betulus pollen to atmospheric levels of CO, O3 and SO2

Abstract

Ostrya spp. and Carpinus spp. pollen was in vitro exposed to three atmospheric pollutants: CO, O3 and SO2. Two levels of each pollutant were used, and the first level corresponds to a concentration about the atmospheric hour-limit value acceptable for human health protection in Europe and the second level to about the triple of the first level. Experiments were done under artificial solar light with temperature and relative humidity controlled. The viability of the exposed pollen samples showed a significant decrease. Also, the germination percentage showed a significant decrease in both exposed pollens, and the effect was most pronounced for SO2, followed by O3 and CO. A general decreasing trend in the total soluble protein content of the exposed pollen samples when compared with the control was observed, but it was only statistically significant for the Ostrya spp pollen. The results showed marked effects were observed on the Ostrya spp. and Carpinus spp. pollen when exposed to air pollutant levels that can be considered safe for human health protection.

A Review of the Effects of Major Atmospheric Pollutants on Pollen Grains, Pollen Content, and Allergenicity

“…Most commonly, the pollen viability is diminished, even suppressed, consequently to an artificial pollution event and the decrease is often proportional to the pollutants dose. Rates of germination were also negatively affected for several species exposed in vitro with very low doses of pollutants: O 3 (30 ppb/6 hours) and NO 2 (34 ppb/6 hours) [ 153 , 156 , 163 ].…”

Flowering Phenology and Characteristics of Pollen Aeroparticles of Quercus Species in Korea

“…Effects of air pollution on Ostrya carpinifolia, Platanus spp., and Q. robur pollen protein were significant. However, there was no significant effect on the pollen grains of Carpinus betulus and Acer negundo [61,62]. Future studies on the interaction between airborne pollen concentrations and particulate matter on the allergenic potential of pollen proteins are needed.…”

Plant pollination of a low intensity as causal agent of seasonal allergy

“…Було доведене статистично достовірне збільшення алергенності пилку хме-леграбу (Ostrya) порівняно з п.з. інших дерев після експонування цього пилку до забруднювачів повітря у містах, таких як CO, O 3 , NO 2 та SO 2 [3]. Алергенність низь-кого ступеня зареєстрована для п.з.…”