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The dispersion characteristics of airborne pollen in the Shijiazhuang (China) urban area and its relationship with meteorological factors

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Abstract

In this study, a Tauber pollen trap was used in the urban area of Shijiazhuang to monitor continuously the outdoor air pollen from 2007 to 2011. The trap was emptied at regular intervals (typically 15 days). The results show that airborne pollen assemblages are generally similar each year among 2007–2011 and are responsive to the flowering times of plants, being dominated by pollen from woody plants in the spring and by pollen from herbaceous plants in summer and autumn. Two peak pollen influx periods, especially for the main allergenic pollen taxa, are seen, one between early March to early June and a second between late August to early October. During the four seasons, the main pollen taxa are Juglans, Artemisia, Platanus, Populus, Chenopodiaceae, Urtica + Humulus, Rosaceae, Pinus, Poaceae, Cereals, Quercus, and Betula, and all taxa other than Rosaceae were confirmed by relevant studies to be allergenic pollen taxa. RDA analysis of pollen influx and meteorological factors shows that in spring, temperature and humidity have significant effects on the pollen influx of woody plants; in summer, humidity and precipitation have significant negative effects on pollen influx of herbaceous plants; in autumn, temperature, water vapor pressure, and precipitation have a significant positive influence on herbaceous pollen influx; in winter, there were no significant correlations between airborne pollen influx and meteorological factors. The results reveal the dispersion patterns of airborne pollen and provide an important reference to appropriate construction of urban green systems and the reliable reduction in regional pollinosis.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41472157, 41171166, and 41371215), the Hebei Natural Science Foundation (D2013205038), and the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDA05120202). We thank Accdon and Jane for their linguistic assistance during the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China

    Jia Li, Yue Cong Li, Zhen Zhang, Ying Li & Chun Yue Wang

  2. Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Ecological Development of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China

    Jia Li, Yue Cong Li, Zhen Zhang, Ying Li & Chun Yue Wang

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  1. Jia Li
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Correspondence to Yue Cong Li.

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Li, J., Li, Y.C., Zhang, Z. et al. The dispersion characteristics of airborne pollen in the Shijiazhuang (China) urban area and its relationship with meteorological factors. Aerobiologia 34, 89–104 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-017-9501-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-017-9501-7

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