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Effect of meteorological parameters on Poaceae pollen in the atmosphere of Tetouan (NW Morocco)

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Abstract

Poaceae pollen is one of the most prevalent aeroallergens causing allergenic reactions. The aim of this study was to characterise the grass pollen season in Tetouan during the years 2008–2010, to analyse the effect of some meteorological parameters on the incidence of the airborne Poaceae pollen, and to establish forecasting variables for daily pollen concentrations. Aerobiological sampling was undertaken over three seasons using the volumetric method. The pollen season started in April and showed the highest pollen index in May and June, when the maximum temperature ranged from 23 to 27 °C, respectively. The annual pollen score recorded varied from year to year between 2,588 and 5,404. The main pollen season lasted 114–173 days, with peak days occurring mainly in May; the highest concentration reached 308 pollen grains/m3. Air temperature was the most important meteorological parameter and correlated positively to daily pollen concentration increase. An increase in relative humidity and precipitation was usually related to a decrease in airborne pollen content. External validation of the models performed using data from 2011 showed that Poaceae pollen concentration can be highly predicted (64.2–78.6 %) from the maximum temperature, its mean concentration for the same day in other years, and its concentration recorded on the previous day. Sensitive patients suffering allergy to Poaceae pollen are at moderate to highest risk of manifesting allergic symptoms to grass pollen over 33–42 days. The results obtained provide new information on the quantitative contribution of the Poaceae pollen to the airborne pollen of Tetouan and on its temporal distribution. Airborne pollen can be surveyed and forecast in order to warn the atopic population.

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Acknowledgements

This project (A9772/07, A/023754/09 and A/031385/10) and the research grants MAECI-AECID, programs IIA and IIE were subsidized financially by the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation and Development (AECID) of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Diversity and Conservation of Biological Systems, Faculty of Sciences, University Abdelmalek Essaâdi, Mhannech II, Postal Code 2121, Tetouan, Morocco

    Nadia Aboulaich, Lamiaa Achmakh, Hassan Bouziane, Mohamed Kadiri, Hassane Riadi & Mohamed Kazzaz

  2. Department of Plant Biology, University of Malaga, PO Box 59, 29080, Malaga, Spain

    Nadia Aboulaich, M. Mar Trigo, Marta Recio & Baltasar Cabezudo

Authors
  1. Nadia Aboulaich
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  2. Lamiaa Achmakh
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  3. Hassan Bouziane
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  4. M. Mar Trigo
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  5. Marta Recio
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  6. Mohamed Kadiri
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  7. Baltasar Cabezudo
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  8. Hassane Riadi
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  9. Mohamed Kazzaz
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Correspondence to Nadia Aboulaich or Hassan Bouziane.

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Aboulaich, N., Achmakh, L., Bouziane, H. et al. Effect of meteorological parameters on Poaceae pollen in the atmosphere of Tetouan (NW Morocco) . Int J Biometeorol 57, 197–205 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-012-0566-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-012-0566-2

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