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The medical and scientific responsibility of pollen information services

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Summary

Pollen information as such is highly valuable and was considered so far as a self-evident good free for the public. The foundation for reliable and serious pollen information is the careful, scientific evaluation of pollen content in the air. However, it is essential to state and define now the requirements for pollen data and qualifications needed for institutions working with pollen data in the light of technical developments such as automated pollen counting and various political interests in aerobiology including attempts to finally acknowledge pollen and spores as relevant biological particles in the air worth being considered for pollution and health directives. It has to be emphasized that inadequate pollen forecasts are a considerable health risk for pollen allergy sufferers. Therefore, the responsibility of institutions involved in pollen monitoring and forecasting is high and should be substantiated with respective qualifications and know-how. We suggest here for the first time a portfolio of quality criteria and demand rigorous scientific monitoring and certification of such institutions in the interest and for the protection of persons affected by a pollen allergy.

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Acknowledgements

We thank an anonymous reviewer for his/her careful review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forschungsgruppe Aerobiologie und Polleninformation, HNO-Klinik, Medizinische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria

    Katharina Bastl, Maximilian Kmenta & Uwe Berger

  2. Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität, Salzburg, Austria

    Markus Berger

  3. Stiftung Deutscher Polleninformationsdienst http://www.pollenstiftung.de

    Karl-Christian Bergmann

Authors
  1. Katharina Bastl
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  2. Markus Berger
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  4. Maximilian Kmenta
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katharina Bastl.

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Conflict of interest

K. Bastl, K.-C. Bergmann, M. Kmenta and U. Berger report to have taken part in the development of the app “Pollen” that is freely available and without advertisement and thus of no financial interest. M. Berger declares that he has no competing interests.

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Bastl, K., Berger, M., Bergmann, KC. et al. The medical and scientific responsibility of pollen information services. Wien Klin Wochenschr 129, 70–74 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-016-1097-3

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