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A contribution to the knowledge of Cupressaceae airborne pollen in the middle west of Spain

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Abstract

This study investigates the pollen of Cupressaceae in the atmosphere of Salamanca during the years 2000–2007. Annual variations in the concentration of pollen in the atmosphere were analysed by the volumetric method using Hirst spore trap. From a quantitative point of view, Cupressaceae is the third most abundant airborne taxa in the city of Salamanca where it constitutes 11 % of the total pollen content as a mean value, displaying an increase in its atmospheric pollen index during the 8 years studied. This pollen type was mainly detected in the atmosphere during winter season, with an atmospheric pollen season registered between late January and June and maximum concentrations detected in late February and early March. The intradiurnal pattern reached a higher hourly concentration peak in the central hours of the day. Cupressaceae pollen concentrations exceeded known thresholds on more days in the last 4 years studied. The correlations obtained between daily pollen counts and different meteorological parameters showed that the airborne presence of this pollen type is positively associated with temperature during winter months. The results could be useful to improve the knowledge of this pollen type in the atmosphere and to prevent symptoms of allergic reactions in pollen-sensitive people.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partially supported by Public Health Council of Junta de Castilla y León, agreement code H42. We are grateful to the Immunoallergic Services of Salamanca University Hospital for kindly providing different slide preparations. The first author would like to thank the University of Salamanca for his research grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n, 37007, Salamanca, Spain

    David Rodríguez de la Cruz, Estefanía Sánchez-Reyes & José Sánchez-Sánchez

  2. Centro Hispano-Luso de Investigaciones Agrarias (C.I.A.L.E.), University of Salamanca, 37185, Villamayor, Spain

    David Rodríguez de la Cruz, Estefanía Sánchez-Reyes & José Sánchez-Sánchez

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  1. David Rodríguez de la Cruz
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  2. Estefanía Sánchez-Reyes
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  3. José Sánchez-Sánchez
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Correspondence to David Rodríguez de la Cruz.

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Rodríguez de la Cruz, D., Sánchez-Reyes, E. & Sánchez-Sánchez, J. A contribution to the knowledge of Cupressaceae airborne pollen in the middle west of Spain. Aerobiologia 31, 435–444 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-015-9376-4

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