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A 10-year survey of allergenic airborne pollen in the city of Porto (Portugal)

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Abstract

Airborne pollen calendars are useful to estimate the flowering season of the different plants as well as to indicate the allergenic potential present in the atmosphere at a given time. In this study, it is presented a 10-year survey of the atmospheric concentration of allergenic pollen types. Airborne pollen was performed, from 2003 to 2012, using a 7-day Hirst-type volumetric trap. The interannual variation of the daily mean concentration of the number of pollen grains and the main pollen season was determined as well as the hourly variations and correlation with meteorological parameters. During the study period, 18 different allergenic pollen types were considered based on its representativeness on the total annual airborne pollen concentration. The lowest annual concentrations were sampled in 2006 and the highest in 2007. The highest airborne pollen concentration was found during early spring and early summer. On the contrary, December was the month with the lowest pollen concentration. The major pollen sampled belongs to trees followed by weeds and grasses, being the most representative pollen types in the atmosphere: Urticaceae, Platanus, Poaceae, Pinaceae, Cupressaceae, Acer, Quercus, Castanea, Plantago, Alnus, Olea europaea, Betula, Myrtaceae and Populus. Intradiurnal distribution patterns of the pollen types studied presented differences with some taxa being predominantly sampled in the morning (9–11 a.m.) while others in first night hours (between 9 and 12 p.m.). Significantly correlations were found between the airborne pollen concentration and meteorological parameters.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by FEDER, COMPETE Program, PTDC/AAC-AMB/102796/2008, from FCT, Portugal. The first author benefits from a scholarship (SFRH/BDP/43604/2008) financed by QREN-POPH and FCT.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geology Centre, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 687, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal

    H. Ribeiro & I. Abreu

  2. Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, S/N, 4150-007, Porto, Portugal

    I. Abreu

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  1. H. Ribeiro
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  2. I. Abreu
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Correspondence to H. Ribeiro.

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Ribeiro, H., Abreu, I. A 10-year survey of allergenic airborne pollen in the city of Porto (Portugal). Aerobiologia 30, 333–344 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-014-9331-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-014-9331-9

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