Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Assessment of airborne Asteraceae pollen in Brisbane, Australia

  • Brief Communication
  • Published:
Aerobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the southern hemisphere, the airborne prevalence and seasonal distribution of Asteraceae pollen are poorly characterized. In this study, we assessed the longitudinal distribution of Asteraceae pollen using an historic aerobiological dataset. The influence of weather parameters on pollen derived from Asteraceae species was additionally explored. Asteraceae pollen was collected using a static Burkard 7-day spore trap during a 5-year (June 1994–May 1999) aerometric surveillance program in Brisbane, Australia. Two discrete seasonal intervals were identified each sampling year. The first interval (September and October) consisted of small quantities of unidentifiable Asteraceae pollen. The second interval (March and April) was characterized by the highest concentrations of Asteraceae pollen that were predominantly derived from Baccharis halimifolia. Associations between daily Asteraceae pollen concentrations and temperature were observed during each sampling year. The results of the study demonstrated that pollen derived from B. halimifolia, an invasive weed species introduced in the late nineteenth century, continue to be in the environment of Brisbane. Given the public health burden associated with personal Asteraceae pollen exposure in other geographic locations, future Australian-based clinical studies should characterize the contribution of Asteraceae pollen, in particular B. halimifolia, to allergic sensitization and respiratory morbidity.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+
from $39.99 /Month
  • Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
  • Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
  • Cancel anytime
View plans

Buy Now

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

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles, books and news in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Barnes, C., Pacheco, F., Landuyt, J., Hu, F., & Portnoy, J. (2001). Hourly variation of airborne ragweed pollen in Kansas City. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 86, 166–171.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bass, D. J., Delpech, V., Beard, J., Bass, P., & Walls, R. S. (2000). Late summer and fall (March–May) pollen allergy and respiratory disease in Northern New South Wales, Australia. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 85, 374–381.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bass, D., & Morgan, G. (1997). A three year (1993–1995) calendar of pollen and Alternaria mould in the atmosphere of south western Sydney. Grana, 36, 293–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cadman, A. (1991). Airspora of Johannesburg and Pretoria, South Africa, 1987/88; I. Pollen calendars. Grana, 29, 311–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Department of Natural Resources and Water. (2006). Groundsel bush, Baccharis halimifolia: pest series. http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/documents/Biosecurity_EnvironmentalPests/IPA-Groundsel-Bush-PP13.pdf. Accessed October 20, 2009. Brisbane: Department of Natural Resources and Water, Queensland Government.

  • Ensbey, R. (2001). Groundsel bush. In D. Dixon (Ed.), Agfacts (p. P7.6.35). Orange: NSW Agriculture.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, B. J., Dettmann, M. E., Rutherford, S., & Simpson, R. W. (2002). Airborne pollen of Brisbane, Australia: A five-year record, 1994–1999. Grana, 41(4), 242–250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moss, J. E. (1965). Airborne pollens in Brisbane. Australian Journal of Botany, 13, 23–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moss, J. E. (1967). A flowering calendar of possible hay fever plants in Brisbane. Medical Journal of Australia, 11(6), 270–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nilsson, S., & Persson, S. (1981). Tree pollen spectra in the Stockholm region (Sweden), 1973–1980. Grana, 20, 179–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ong, E. K., Singh, M. B., & Knox, R. B. (1995). Seasonal distribution of pollen in the atmosphere of Melbourne: An airborne pollen calendar. Aerobiologia, 11, 51–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, W. T., & Cuthbertson, E. G. (2001). Noxious weeds of Australia (2nd ed.). Collingwood, VIC: CSIRO Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stegelmeier, B. L., Sani, Y., & Pfister, J. A. (2009). Baccharis pteronioides toxicity in livestock and hamsters. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 21(2), 208–213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tokarnia, C. H., Peixoto, P. V., Gava, A., & Barros, C. S. L. (1992). Experimental poisoning of bovines by Baccharis megapotamica var megapotamica and var weirii (Compositae). Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira, 12(1–2), 19–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, A. (2008). Terrestrial plants. In J. Scalan (Ed.), State of the environment Queensland 2007 (pp. 269–274). Brisbane: The State of Queensland, Environmental Protection Agency.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yli-Panula, E., Fekedulegn, D. B., Green, B. J., & Ranta, H. (2009). Analysis of airborne Betula pollen in Finland; a 31-year perspective. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 6(6), 1706–1723.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was made possible by financial support from the Asthma Foundation of Queensland. Special thanks to Dr. Shannon Rutherford, and the staff of the School of Public Health, Griffith University, for their technical assistance, as well as the Department of Environment and the Bureau of Meteorology for providing the meteorological data. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1095 Willowdale Road, M.S. 4020, Morgantown, WV, 26505-2888, USA

    Brett J. Green

  2. Faculty of Science, Health, and Education, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia

    Rod W. Simpson

  3. Earth Sciences, Queensland Museum, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Mary E. Dettmann

Authors
  1. Brett J. Green
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rod W. Simpson
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mary E. Dettmann
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brett J. Green.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Green, B.J., Simpson, R.W. & Dettmann, M.E. Assessment of airborne Asteraceae pollen in Brisbane, Australia. Aerobiologia 28, 295–301 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-011-9224-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-011-9224-0

Keywords