Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Are the birch trees in Southern England a source of Betula pollen for North London?

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Biometeorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Birch pollen is highly allergenic. Knowledge of daily variations, atmospheric transport and source areas of birch pollen is important for exposure studies and for warnings to the public, especially for large cities such as London. Our results show that broad-leaved forests with high birch tree densities are located to the south and west of London. Bi-hourly Betula pollen concentrations for all the days included in the study, and for all available days with high birch pollen counts (daily average birch pollen counts >80 grains/m3), show that, on average, there is a peak between 1400 hours and 1600 hours. Back-trajectory analysis showed that, on days with high birch pollen counts (n = 60), 80% of air masses arriving at the time of peak diurnal birch pollen count approached North London from the south in a 180 degree arc from due east to due west. Detailed investigations of three Betula pollen episodes, with distinctly different diurnal patterns compared to the mean daily cycle, were used to illustrate how night-time maxima (2200–0400 hours) in Betula pollen counts could be the result of transport from distant sources or long transport times caused by slow moving air masses. We conclude that the Betula pollen recorded in North London could originate from sources found to the west and south of the city and not just trees within London itself. Possible sources outside the city include Continental Europe and the Betula trees within the broad-leaved forests of Southern England.

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
Fig. 4
Fig. 5a–d
Fig. 6
Fig. 7a–d
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ALK Abelló (2000) Allergy—living and learning. A survey of 7000 allergy patients in 10 European countries. Available at: http://www.alk-abello.com/research/studiesandliterature/allergylivingandlearning/Pages/home.aspx.

  • APG II (2003) An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants. Bot J Linn Soc 141:399–436. doi:10.1046/j.1095-8339.2003.t01-1-00158.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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. doi:10.1016/S0889-8561(03)00104-8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • BAF (1995) Airborne pollens and spores: a guide to trapping and counting. The British Aerobiology Federation, Aylesford. ISBN 0-9525617-0-0

  • Blaiss MS (2003) Important aspects in management of allergic rhinitis: compliance, cost, and quality of life. Allergy Asthma Proc 24:231–238

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bousquet J, Van Cauwenberge P, Khaltaev N, Ait-Khaled N, Annesi-Maesano I, Baena-Cagnani C, Bateman E, Bonini S, Canonica GW, Carlsen KH, Demoly P, Durham SR, Enarson D, Fokkens WJ, van Wijk RG, Howarth P, Ivanova NA, Kemp JP, Klossek JM, Lockey RF, Lund V, Mackay I, Malling HJ, Meltzer EO, Mygind N, Okunda M, Pawankar R, Price D, Scadding GK, Simons FER, Szczeklik A, Valovirta E, Vignola AM, Wang DY, Warner JO, Weiss KB (2001) Allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 108:S147–S334. doi:10.1067/mai.2001.118891

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brandt J, Christensen JH, Frohn LM, Berkowicz R (2001a) Operational air pollution forecasts from regional scale to urban street scale. Part 1: System description. Phys Chem Earth, Part B Hydrol Oceans Atmos 26:781–786. doi:10.1016/S1464-1909(01)00086-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brandt J, Christensen JH, Frohn LM, Berkowicz R (2001b) Operational air pollution forecasts from regional scale to urban street scale. Part 2: Performance evaluation. Phys Chem Earth, Part B Hydrol Oceans Atmos 26:825–830. doi:10.1016/S1464-1909(01)00092-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bundesministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtsaft und Verbraucherschutz (2004) Die zweite Bundeswaldinventur—BWI2—Das wichtichste in Kürze. Berlin, Germany

  • Corden J, Millington W, Bailey J, Brookes M, Caulton E, Emberlin J, Mullins J, Simpson C, Wood A (2000) UK regional variations in Betula pollen (1993–1997). Aerobiologia 16:227–232. doi:10.1023/A:1007607307139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corden JM, Stach A, Millington WM (2002) A comparison of Betula pollen seasons at two European sites; Derby, United Kingdom and Poznan, Poland (1995–1999). Aerobiologia 18:45–53. doi:10.1023/A:1014953527763

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dahl Å, Strandhede SO (1996) Predicting the intensity of the birch pollen season. Aerobiologia 12:97–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Demoly P, Bousquet J (2006) The relation between asthma and allergic rhinitis. Lancet 368:711–713. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(06)69263-5

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • EA (1999) Environment Agency. Thames Tideway (Teddington to Tower Bridge) Local Environment Agency Plan: Action Plan.

  • Emberlin J (1995) Interaction between air pollutants and aeroallergens. Clin Exp Allergy 25:33–39. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1995.tb00040.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Emberlin JC (1997) Grass, tree and weed pollens. In: Kay AB (ed) Allergy and allergic diseases. National Heart and Lung Institute, London

  • Emberlin J, Savage M, Woodman R (1993) Annual variations in the concentrations of Betula pollen in the London area, 1961–1990. Grana 32:359–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Emberlin J, Mullins J, Corden J, Millington W, Brooke M, Savage M, Jones S (1997) The trend to earlier Birch pollen seasons in the UK: a biotic response to changes in weather conditions? Grana 36:29–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Emberlin J, Detandt M, Gehrig R, Jaeger S, Nolard N, Rantio-Lehtimaki A (2002) Responses in the start of Betula (birch) pollen seasons to recent changes in spring temperatures across Europe. Int J Biometeorol 46:159–170. doi:10.1007/s00484-002-0139-x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • European Commission (2005) European Commission Image2000 and CLC2000 products and methods. Joint Research Center (DG JRC), Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Land Management Unit, I-21020 Ispra (VA), Italy, pp 1–152

  • Ferguson BJ (2004) Influences of allergic rhinitis on sleep. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 130:617–629. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2004.02.001

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Forestry Commission (2001) National Inventory of Woodland and Trees. Forestry Commission, Wetherby, UK, pp 1–68

  • Goudie A (1996) The nature of the environment. Blackwell, London, pp 1–448

    Google Scholar 

  • Grime JP, Hodgson JG, Hunt R (1996) Comparative plant ecology. Chapman and Hall, London, pp 1–752

    Google Scholar 

  • Grossman J (1997) One airway, one disease. Chest 111:S11–S16. doi:10.1378/chest.111.2_Supplement.11S

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hertel O, Skjøth CA, Brandt J, Christensen JH, Frohn LM, Frydendall J (2003) Operational mapping of atmospheric nitrogen deposition to the Baltic Sea. Atmos Chem Phys 3:2083–2099

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hirst JM (1952) An automatic volumetric spore trap. Ann Appl Biol 39:257–265. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7348.1952.tb00904.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hjelmroos M (1991) Evidence of long-distance transport of Betula pollen. Grana 30:215–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Hjelmroos M (1992) Long-distance transport of Betula pollen grains and allergic symptons. Aerobiologia 8:231–236. doi:10.1007/BF02071631

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IFN (2007) French National Forest Inventory (Inventaire Forestier National). Vidal, Nogent-sur-Vernisson, France http://www.ifn.fr/spip/.

  • Janjic ZI (1990) The step-mountain coordinate: physical package. Mon Weather Rev 118:1429–1443. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1990)118<1429:TSMCPP>2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janjic ZI (1994) The step-mountain Eta coordinate model: further developments of the convection, viscous sublayer, and turbulence closure schemes. Mon Weather Rev 122:927–945. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1994)122<0927:TSMECM>2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koivikko A, Kupias R, Makinen Y, Pohjola A (1986) Pollen seasons—forecasts of the most important allergenic plants in Finland. Allergy 41:233–242. doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.1986.tb02023.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Konijnendijk CC, Nilsson K, Randrup TB, Schipperin J (2005) Urban forest and trees. Springer, Berlin

  • Laurent C, Lecomte H, Perrin D, De Schepper C, Waterinckx M, Vanwijnsberge S (2005) Global forest resources assessment 2005, Country Report Belgium. Forestry Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005 Country Report Series. http://www.fao.org/forestry/fra2005

  • Linkosalo T (1999) Regularities and patterns in the spring phenology of some boreal trees. Silva Fenn 33:237–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Linneberg A (2000) Udviklingen af forekomsten af luftvejsallergi i Danmark. Environment and Health (Miljø og Sundhed 15:5–7

  • Matthiesen F, Ipsen H, Løwenstein H (1991) Pollen allergens. In: D’Amato G, Spieksma FTM, Bonini S (eds) Allergenic pollen and pollinosis in Europe. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 36–44

  • Meltzer EO (1998) Treatment options for the child with allergic rhinitis. Clin Pediatr 37:1–10. doi:10.1177/000992289803700101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nickovic S, Mikhailovic B, Rajkovic B, Papdoupulus A (1998) The weather forecasting system SKIRON II. University of Athens, Greece, pp 1–228

  • Norris-Hill J, Emberlin J (1991) Diurnal-variation of pollen concentration in the air of north-central London. Grana 30:229–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oei HD, Spieksma FTM, Bruynzeel PLB (1986) Birch pollen asthma in the Netherlands. Allergy 41:435–441. doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.1986.tb00324.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paasman JM (2005) Global Forest Resources Assessment. Country Report Netherlands. Forestry Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005 Country Report Series, pp 1-42. http://www.fao.org/forestry/fra2005

  • Pauleit S, Duhme F (2000) GIS assessment of Munich’s urban forest structure for urban planning. J Arboricult 26:133–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Pauleit S, Jones N, Garcia-Martin G, Garcia-Valdecantos JL, Riviere LM, Vidal-Beaudet L, Bodson M, Randrup TB (2002) Tree establishment practice in towns and cities—results from a European survey. Urban For Urban Green 1:83–96. doi:10.1078/1618-8667-00009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perry M, Hollis D (2005) The development of a new set of long-term climate averages for the UK. Int J Climatol 25:1023–1039. doi:10.1002/joc.1160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Preston CD, Pearman DA, Dines TD (2002) New atlas of the British and Irish flora. Oxford University Press, Oxford

  • Puc M (2003) Characterisation of pollen allergens. Ann Agric Environ Med 10:143–149

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez-Rajo JF, Dopazo A, Jato V (2004) Environmental factors affecting the start of pollen season and concentrations of airborne Alnus pollen in two localities of Galicia (NW Spain). Ann Agric Environ Med 11:35–44

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sabbah A, Daele J, Wade AG, Ben Soussen P, Attali P (1999) Comparison of the efficacy, safety, and onset of action of mizolastine, cetirizine, and placebo in the management of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 83:319–325

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schelhaas MJ, Varis S, Schuck A, Nabuurs GJ (2006) EFISCEN Inventory Database. European Forest Institute, Joensuu, Finland. http://www.efi.int/databases/efiscen/

  • Skjøth CA, Hertel O, Ellermann T (2002) Use of the ACDEP trajectory model in the Danish nationwide background monitoring programme. Phys Chem Earth 27:1469–1477

    Google Scholar 

  • Skjøth CA, Sommer J, Stach A, Smith M, Brandt J (2007) The long range transport of birch (Betula) pollen from Poland and Germany causes significant pre-season concentrations in Denmark. Clin Exp Allergy 37:1204–1212. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.2007.02771.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Skjøth CA, Geels C, Hvidberg M, Hertel O, Brandt J, Frohn LM, Hansen KM, Hedegaard GB, Christensen J, Moseholm L (2008a) An inventory of tree species in Europe—an essential data input for air pollution modelling. Ecol Modell 217:292–304. doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2008.06.023

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Skjøth CA, Sommer J, Brandt J, Hvidberg M, Geels C, Hansen K, Hertel O, Frohn L, Christensen J (2008b) Copenhagen—a significant source of birch (Betula) pollen? Int J Biometeorol 52:453–462. doi:10.1007/s00484-007-0139-y

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith M, Emberlin J (2005) Constructing a 7-day ahead forecast model for grass pollen at north London, United Kingdom. Clin Exp Allergy 35:1400–1406. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.2005.02349.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith M, Emberlin J (2006) A 30-day-ahead forecast model for grass pollen in north London, United Kingdom. Int J Biometeorol 50:233–242. doi:10.1007/s00484-005-0010-y

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith M, Skjøth CA, Myszkowska D, Uruska A, Malgorzata P, Stach A, Balwierzg Z, Chlopek K, Piotrowska K, Kasprzyk I, Brandt J (2008) Long-range transport of Ambrosia pollen to Poland. Agric For Meteorol 148:1402–1411. doi:10.1016/j.agrformet.2008.04.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sofiev M, Siljamo P, Ranta H, Rantio-Lehtimaki A (2006) Towards numerical forecasting of long-range air transport of birch pollen: theoretical considerations and a feasibility study. Int J Biometeorol 50:392–402. doi:10.1007/s00484-006-0027-x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spector SL (1997) Overview of comorbid associations of allergic rhinitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol 99:S773–S780. doi:10.1016/S0091-6749(97)70126-X

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spieksma FTM (1990) Pollinosis in Europe—new observations and developments. Rev Palaeobot Palynol 64:35–40. doi:10.1016/0034-6667(90)90114-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stace C (1997) New flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press

  • Stach A, Smith M, Skjøth CA, Brandt J (2007) Examining Ambrosia pollen episodes at Poznañ (Poland) using back-trajectory analysis. Int J Biometeorol 51:275–286. doi:10.1007/s00484-006-0068-1

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stach A, Emberlin J, Smith M, Adams-Groom B, Myszkowska D (2008) Factors that determine the severity of Betula spp. pollen seasons in Poland (Poznan and Krakow) and the United Kingdom (Worcester and London). Int J Biometeorol 52:311–321. doi:10.1007/s00484-007-0127-2

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stern MA, Darnell R, Tudor D (1997) Can an antihistamine delay appearance of hay fever symptoms when given prior to pollen season? Allergy 52:440–444. doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.1997.tb01026.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tripathi A, Patterson R (2001) Impact of allergic rhinitis treatment on quality of life. Pharmacoeconomics 19:891–899. doi:10.2165/00019053-200119090-00001

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Valenta R, Breiteneder H, Pettenburger K, Breitenbach M, Rumpold H, Kraft D, Scheiner O (1991) Homology of the major birch-pollen allergen, Bet v I, with the major pollen allergens of alder, hazel, and hornbeam at the nucleic acid level as determined by cross-hybridization. J Allergy Clin Immunol 87:677–682. doi:10.1016/0091-6749(91)90388-5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Viander M, Koivikko A (1978) Seasonal symptoms of hypo-sensitized and untreated hay-fever patients in relation to birch pollen counts—correlations with nasal sensitivity, prick tests and RAST. Clin Allergy 8:387–396. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1978.tb00474.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner M (2005) Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005, Country Report Luxemburg. 2005. Forestry Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005 Country Report Series, pp 1-33 http://www.fao.org/forestry/fra2005

  • WHO (2003) Phenology and human health. In: Allergic disorders. WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, pp 1–64

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was partly funded by the Copenhagen Global Change Initiative (www.cogci.dk). The authors would like to thank the National Centres for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) for providing input data to the Eta model and for providing verifying meteorological observations exchanged under the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) World Weather Watch Programme. The authors are also grateful to the Environmental and Public Protection offices, Islington for use of the pollen data. The results presented here address two of the main scientific challenges described in COST Action ES0603 (EUPOL) (http://www.cost.esf.org/index.php?id=1080), specifically Work Package 1 (pollen production and release) and Work Package 2 (pollen atmospheric distribution and interaction)

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Atmospheric Environment, National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus, P.O. Box 358, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark

    C. A. Skjøth & J. Brandt

  2. National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit, University of Worcester, Henwick Road, Worcester, WR2 6AJ, UK

    M. Smith & J. Emberlin

Authors
  1. C. A. Skjøth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Brandt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. Emberlin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. A. Skjøth.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Skjøth, C.A., Smith, M., Brandt, J. et al. Are the birch trees in Southern England a source of Betula pollen for North London?. Int J Biometeorol 53, 75–86 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-008-0192-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-008-0192-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation