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Spatial and temporal variations in the Annual Pollen Index recorded by sites belonging to the Portuguese Aerobiology Network

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Abstract

This study presents the findings of a 10-year survey carried out by the Portuguese Aerobiology Network (RPA) at seven pollen-monitoring stations: five mainland stations (Oporto, Coimbra, Lisbon, Évora and Portimão) and two insular stations [Funchal (Madeira archipelago) and Ponta Delgada (Azores archipelago)]. The main aim of the study was to examine spatial and temporal variations in the Annual Pollen Index (API) with particular focus on the most frequently recorded pollen types. Pollen monitoring (2003–2012) was carried out using Hirst-type volumetric spore traps, following the minimum recommendations proposed by the European Aerobiology Society Working Group on Quality Control. Daily pollen data were examined for similarities using the Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric test and multivariate regression trees. Simple linear regression analysis was used to describe trends in API. The airborne pollen spectrum at RPA stations is dominated by important allergenic pollen types such as Poaceae, Olea and Urticaceae. Statistically significant differences were witnessed in the API recorded at the seven stations. Mean API is higher in the southern mainland cities, e.g. Évora, Lisbon and Portimão, and lower in insular and littoral cities. There were also a number of significant trends in API during the 10-year study. This report identifies spatial and temporal variations in the amount of airborne pollen recorded annually in the Portuguese territory. There were also a number of significant changes in API, but no general increases in the amount of airborne pollen.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Portuguese Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SPAIC) for the pollen data, help and financial support in this aerobiological study of the RPA and thank to José Ferraz de Oliveira, Ana Todo-Bom, Ângela Gaspar, Miguel Paiva, Rodrigo Alves, Maria João Pereira, Maria Luisa Lopes and their RPA collaborators too. We also like to thank the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) in particularly the Meteorological Observatory of Funchal, for their help and support in the aerobiological study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculdade das Ciências da Vida, Universidade da Madeira, Campus Universitário da Penteada, 9000-390, Funchal, Portugal

    Irene Câmara Camacho & Roberto Camacho

  2. Sociedade Portuguesa de Alergologia e Imunologia Clínica - SPAIC, Lisbon, Portugal

    Elsa Caeiro & Raquel Ferro

  3. Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas – ICAAM, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal

    Elsa Caeiro & Raquel Ferro

  4. Unidade de Imunoalergologia, Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça, Funchal, Portugal

    Rita Câmara

  5. Department of Plant Taxonomy and Phytogeography, Faculty of Biology, University of Szczecin, Wąska 13 Street, 71-415, Szczecin, Poland

    Agnieszka Grinn-Gofroń

  6. Laboratory of Aeropalynology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland

    Matt Smith

  7. Institute of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Worcester, UK

    Matt Smith

  8. West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland

    Agnieszka Strzelczak

  9. Centro de Imunoalergologia do Algarve, Portimão, Portugal

    Carlos Nunes

  10. Unidade de Imunoalergologia, Hospital CUF Descobertas, Lisbon, Portugal

    Mário Morais-Almeida

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  1. Irene Câmara Camacho
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Camacho, I.C., Caeiro, E., Ferro, R. et al. Spatial and temporal variations in the Annual Pollen Index recorded by sites belonging to the Portuguese Aerobiology Network. Aerobiologia 33, 265–279 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-016-9468-9

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