Characterisation of the airborne pollen spectrum in Guadalajara (central Spain) and estimation of the potential allergy risk

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 188, Article number: 130 (2016) Cite this article

Abstract

Aerobiological research into airborne pollen diversity and seasonal variations in pollen counts has become increasingly important over recent decades due to the growing incidence of asthma, rhinitis and other pollen-related allergic conditions. Airborne pollen in Guadalajara (Castilla-La Mancha, Spain) was studied over a 6-year period (2008–2013) using a Hirst-type volumetric spore trap. The highest pollen concentrations were recorded from February to June, coinciding with the pollen season of the pollen types that most contribute to the local airborne pollen spectrum: Cupressaceae (32.2 %), Quercus (15.1 %), Platanus (13.2 %), Olea (8.3 %), Populus (7.8 %) and Poaceae (7.2 %). These are therefore critical months for allergy sufferers. The pollen calendar was typically Mediterranean and comprised 25 pollen types. Between January and March, Cupressaceae pollen concentrations exceeded allergy risk thresholds on 38 days. Other woody species such as Olea and Platanus have a shorter pollen season, and airborne concentrations exceeded allergy risk thresholds on around 13 days in each case. Poaceae pollen concentrations attained allergy risk levels on 26 days between May and July. Other highly allergenic pollen types included Urticaceae and Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae, though these are less abundant than other pollen types in Guadalajara and did not exceed risk thresholds on more than 3 and 5 days, respectively.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to the Spanish Aerobiology Network (REA) and to the Diputación de Guadalajara for their support related to the sampling. We are also very grateful to F. Muñoz and M.T. Martínez for their collaboration in the collection of samples.

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Affiliations

  1. Institute of Environmental Sciences (Botany), University of Castilla-La Mancha, E-45071, Toledo, Spain

    Jesús Rojo, Ana Rapp, Beatriz Lara, Federico Fernández-González & Rosa Pérez-Badia

  2. Department of Plant Biology II, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, E-28020, Madrid, Spain

    Silvia Sabariego

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  1. Jesús Rojo
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Correspondence to Rosa Pérez-Badia.

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Rojo, J., Rapp, A., Lara, B. et al. Characterisation of the airborne pollen spectrum in Guadalajara (central Spain) and estimation of the potential allergy risk. Environ Monit Assess 188, 130 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5129-2

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Keywords

  • Aeropalynology
  • Pollen spectrum
  • Pollen calendar
  • Allergy