Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Aeroallergens in West Crete, Greece: A five year (2010–2014) aerobiological study

  • Miscellaneous
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The objective of the analytic observational study was to present air-pollen counting program results for a 5-year period. Airborne pollens and fungi collection, from both urban and sub-urban areas, were obtained using a special Burkard pollen trap installed on the roof of Chania General Hospital. Aeroallergen concentration measurement was made in a standardized way with fixation of the material collected and then counting using an optical microscope. Annual and total circulating pollen and fungi counts for the study period are presented. In the year 2014, the highest total annual count was recorded, while 2013 was the year with the lowest one. Months with the highest average concentrations were June for the years 2010 and 2011 (1291 and 1114.6 grains/m3, respectively) and May for the consecutive 3 years 2012–2014 (1120, 890 and 1353.1 g/m3, respectively). Peak periods for circulating aeroallergens were April–June. Trees pollen accounted for the majority of circulating aeroallergens (615.9 and 677.1 g/m3 during peak periods in the years 2012 and 2014), while fungi accounted for the majority of circulating aeroallergens (818.5, 729.4, 890.7 spores/m3), during the peak periods in the years 2010, 2011 and 2013. Variability in peak airborne allergen periods could be partly explained by the differences in climatic conditions during the study period.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gioulekas D, Papakosta D, Damialis A, Spieksma F, Giouleka P, Patakas D (2004) Allergenic pollen records (15 years) and sensitization in patients with respiratory allergy in Thessaloniki, Greece. Allergy 59:174–184

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Grant Smith E (1984) Sampling and identifying allergenic pollens and molds. An illustrated manual for physicians and lab technicians. Blewstone Press, San Antonio

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bousquet J, Van Cauwenberge P, Khaltaev N (2001) Allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 108:147–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Hellings PW, Fokkens WJ (2006) Allergic rhinitis and its impact on otorhinolaryngology. Allergy 61:656–664

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Baran H, Ozcan KM, Selcuk A, Cetin MA, Cayir S, Ozcan M, Dere H (2014) Allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma classification correlations. J Laryngol Otol 128:431–437

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bousquet J, Khaltaev N, Cruz AA et al (2008) Allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma (ARIA) 2008 update. Allergy 63:1–160

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Brozek JL, Bousquet J, Baena-Cagnani CE et al (2010) Allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma (ARIA) guidelines: 2010 revision. J Allergy Clin Immunol 126:466–476

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Van-Cauwenberge P, Bachert C, Passalacqua G et al (2000) Consensus statement on the treatment of allergic rhinitis. EAACI position paper. Allergy 55:116–134

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Togias A (2003) Rhinitis and asthma: evidence for respiratory system integration. J Allergy Clin Immunol 111:1171–1183

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Eccles R (2011) Mechanisms of the symptoms of rhinosinusitis. Rhinology 49:131–138

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Fokkens W, van Drunen CM (2006) Nose and lung, two of a kind? Allergy 61:653–655

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Bachert C, Vignola AM, Gevaert P, Leynaert B, Van Cauwenberge P, Bousquet J (2004) Allergic rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, and asthma: one airway disease. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 24:19–43

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Fokkens W, Lund V, Bachert C et al (2005) EAACI position paper on rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps executive summary. Allergy 60:583–601

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Laforest L, Bousquet J, Pietri G et al (2005) Quality of life during pollen season in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis with or without asthma. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 136:281–286

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Ragab SM, Lund VJ, Scadding G (2004) Evaluation of the medical and surgical treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis: a prospective, randomised, controlled trial. Laryngoscope 114:923–930

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Ragab SM, Lund VJ, Scadding G, Saleh HA, Khalifa MA (2010) Impact of chronic rhinosinusitis therapy on quality of life; a prospective randomized controlled trial. Rhinology 48:305–311

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Custovic A, Wijk RG (2005) The effectiveness of measures to change the indoor environment in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and asthma: ARIA update [in collaboration with GA(2)LEN]. Allergy 60:1112–1115

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Passalacqua G, Bousquet PJ, Carlsen KH et al (2006) ARIA update: I. Systematic review of complementary and alternative medicine for rhinitis and asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 117:1054–1062

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Bousquet J, van Cauwenberge P, Ait Khaled N et al (2006) Pharmacologic and anti-IgE treatment of allergic rhinitis ARIA update (in collaboration with GALEN). Allergy 61:1086–1096

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. http://meteo.gr/meteoplus/index.cfm

  21. http://penteli.meteo.gr/meteosearch/stationInfo.asp

  22. Frengulelli G (2001) Airborne pollen sampling techniques. In: Amato GD, Bonini S, Bousquet J, Durham SR, Plat-Mills TAE (eds) Pollinosis 2000d global approach. JGC Editions, Naples, pp 83–90

    Google Scholar 

  23. Emberlin J, Savage M, Woodman R (1993) Annual variations in the concentrations of Betula pollen in London area. Grana 32:359–363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Driessen M, Van Herpen R, Moelands R, Spieksma F (1989) Prediction of the start of the pollen season for the western part of The Netherlands. Grana 28:37–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. http://www.worcester.ac.uk/discover/recording-the-pollen-count.html

  26. British Aerobiological Federation (1995) Airborne pollens and spores: a guide to trapping and counting. Rotherham

  27. Thompson AK, Juniper E, Meltzer EO (2000) Quality of life in patients with allergic rhinitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 85:338–347

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Weber RW (2003) The international code of nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (the Melbourne code), patterns of pollen cross-allergenicity. J Allergy Clin Immunol 112:229–239. http://www.koeltz.com/product.aspx?pid=204604

  29. Weber RW (2001) Cross-reactivity of plant and animal allergens. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 21:153–202

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Nikolaidis C, Katotomichelakis M, Nena E et al (2015) Seasonal variations of allergenic pollen in a Mediterranean region—Alexandroupolis, north–east Greece. Ann Agric Environ Med 22:685–689

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Katotomichelakis M, Nikolaidis C, Makris M et al (2015) Alternaria and Cladosporium calendar of Western Thrace: relationship with allergic rhinitis symptoms. Laryngoscope [Epub ahead of print]

Download references

Acknowledgments

The section “Main Chania Crete vegetation–flora features” of this study was supported by the Chania Mediterranean Agronomic Institute (MAICh). We thank the Technical Manager Mrs. Sofia Loupasaki (Chemist, M.Sc.) and Quality Manager Mrs. Panagiota Gotsiou (Biologist, M.Sc.) for their kind cooperation and excellent assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ENT Department, Chania General Hospital, Georgiladon 25, 73133, Chania, Crete, Greece

    Chariton E. Papadakis, Devora E. Kiagiadaki & Efklidis K. Proimos

  2. Chief Informatics Chania Regional Union, Chania, Crete, Greece

    Stilianos I. Bonatos

  3. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Evros, Greece

    Michael Katotomichelakis

  4. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Patras, Patras, Greece

    Vassilios Danielides

Authors
  1. Chariton E. Papadakis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Devora E. Kiagiadaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Stilianos I. Bonatos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Michael Katotomichelakis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Vassilios Danielides
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Efklidis K. Proimos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Efklidis K. Proimos.

Ethics declarations

Financial disclosure

There are no financial disclosures.

Conflict of interest

None.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Papadakis, C.E., Kiagiadaki, D.E., Bonatos, S.I. et al. Aeroallergens in West Crete, Greece: A five year (2010–2014) aerobiological study. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 273, 1943–1949 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-016-3973-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-016-3973-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation