Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The impact of pollen load on quality of life: a questionnaire-based study in Lithuania

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Aerobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Populations worldwide have been increasingly affected by allergic rhinitis associated with pollen allergens. Alterations in the geographical distribution of pollinating flora resulting from climatic changes and increased production of pollens caused by higher atmospheric CO2, have changed the environment in which humans reside. This study, carried out in Lithuania, aimed to demonstrate how people with pollen allergy are affected by symptoms associated with changing pollen loads and to evaluate the resultant changes in human quality of life. This study assessed pollen loads in Lithuania during 2013–2014. Skin prick tests were carried out on 665 individuals aiming to evaluate sensitivity to pollen allergens. Self-reports on symptoms and their impact on quality of life were collected from each study subject. There were 24× to 42× differences in inter-annual peaks of Betula pollen concentrations, while differences of plant pollen concentrations of the other genus/families varied from 1.5 to 92 % on peak days. Positive reactions to pollen allergens were reported in 54 % of the study subjects; 90 % of these subjects had been continuously suffering from moderate-to-severe symptoms of allergic rhinitis. The most frequently reported symptoms were sneezing (99 %), runny nose (98 %) and stuffy nose (97 %). The dominant group of subjects reported symptoms during the entire period of vegetation (7 months). This study demonstrated that people with pollen allergies have attributed symptom-associated worsening of their quality of life to the typical periods of unavoidable exposure and have made only minimal changes in their lifestyle during the season of pollen load.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Berger, U. E., Jaeger, S., Smith, M., & Bergmann, K. C. (2013). Personalized forecasting of pollen-induced symptoms for hay-fever sufferers. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 131(2), AB78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bjerg, A., Ekerljung, L., Middelveld, R., Dahlén, S. E., Forsberg, B., Franklin, K., et al. (2011). Increased prevalence of symptoms of rhinitis but not of asthma between 1990 and 2008 in Swedish adults: comparisons of the ECRHS and GA2LEN surveys. PLoS ONE, 6(2), e16082.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bosch-Cano, F., Bernard, N., Sudre, B., Gillet, F., Thibaudon, M., Richard, H., et al. (2011). Human exposure to allergenic pollens: A comparison between urban and rural areas. Environmental Research, 111(5), 619–625.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bousquet, J., Khaltaev, N., Cruz, A. A., Denburg, J., Fokkens, W. J., Togias, A., et al. (2008). Allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma (ARIA) 2008. Allergy, 63(s86), 8–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bousquet, J., Schünemann, H. J., Samolinski, B., Demoly, P., Baena-Cagnani, C. E., Bachert, C., et al. (2012). Allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma (ARIA): Achievements in 10 years and future needs. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 130(5), 1049–1062.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caillaud, D. M., Martin, S., Ségala, C., Vidal, P., Lecadet, J., Pellier, S., et al. (2015). Airborne pollen levels and drug consumption for seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis: A 10-year study in France. Allergy, 70(1), 99–106.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cariñanos, P., & Casares-Porcel, M. (2011). Urban green zones and related pollen allergy: A review. Some guidelines for designing spaces with low allergy impact. Landscape and Urban Planning, 101(3), 205–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dondi, A., Tripodi, S., Panetta, V., Asero, R., Businco, A. D. R., Bianchi, A., et al. (2013). Pollen-induced allergic rhinitis in 1360 Italian children: Comorbidities and determinants of severity. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 24(8), 742–751.

    Article  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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Estrella, N., Menzel, A., Krämer, U., & Behrendt, H. (2006). Integration of flowering dates in phenology and pollen counts in aerobiology: Analysis of their spatial and temporal coherence in Germany (1992–1999). International Journal of Biometeorology, 51(1), 49–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fereidouni, M., Abolhasani, A., Vahedi, F., Shakeri, M. T., & Varasteh, A. (2010). A preliminary survey of the prevalence of allergic disorders in a questionnaire-based study in Boshroye, a rural area of Iran. Journal of Public Health, 18(2), 119–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2010). Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 (FRA 2010). Country report. Rome: Lithuania.

  • Galán, C., Smith, M., Thibaudon, M., Frenguelli, G., Oteros, J., Gehrig, R., et al. (2014). Pollen monitoring: Minimum requirements and reproducibility of analysis. Aerobiologia, 30(4), 385–395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grewling, Ł., Jackowiak, B., Nowak, M., Uruska, A., & Smith, M. (2012). Variations and trends of birch pollen seasons during 15 years (1996–2010) in relation to weather conditions in Poznań (western Poland). Grana, 51(4), 280–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heinzerling, L., Mari, A., Bergmann, K. C., Bresciani, M., Burbach, G., Darsow, U., et al. (2013). The skin prick test-European standards. Clinical and Translational Allergy, 3(1), 3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hellgren, J., Cervin, A., Nordling, S., Bergman, A., & Cardell, L. O. (2010). Allergic rhinitis and the common cold–high cost to society. Allergy, 65(6), 776–783.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hirst, J. M. (1952). An automatic volumetric spore trap. Annals of Applied Biology, 39, 29–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jantunen, J., Saarinen, K., & Rantio-Lehtimäki, A. (2012). Allergy symptoms in relation to alder and birch pollen concentrations in Finland. Aerobiologia, 28(2), 169–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kanter, U., Heller, W., Durner, J., Winkler, J. B., Engel, M., Behrendt, H., et al. (2013). Molecular and immunological characterization of ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) pollen after exposure of the plants to elevated ozone over a whole growing season. PLoS ONE, 8(4), e61518.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kiotseridis, H., Cilio, C. M., Bjermer, L., Tunsäter, A., Jacobsson, H., & Dahl, Å. (2013). Grass pollen allergy in children and adolescents-symptoms, health related quality of life and the value of pollen prognosis. Clinical and translational allergy, 3(1), 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lakhani, N., North, M., & Ellis, A. K. (2012). Clinical manifestations of allergic rhinitis. Allergy & Therapy, 5, 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lâm, H. T., Ekerljung, L., Bjerg, A., Tu'ò'ng, N. V., Lundbäck, B., & Rönmark, E. (2014). Sensitization to airborne allergens among adults and its impact on allergic symptoms: A population survey in northern Vietnam. Clinical and Translational Allergy, 4(1), 6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linneberg, A., Henrik Nielsen, N., Frølund, L., Madsen, F., Dirksen, A., & Jørgensen, T. (2002). The link between allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma: A prospective population-based study. The Copenhagen Allergy Study. Allergy, 57(11), 1048–1052.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meltzer, E. O. (2001). Quality of life in adults and children with allergic rhinitis. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 108(1), S45–S53.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meltzer, E. O., Gross, G. N., Katial, R., & Storms, W. W. (2012). Allergic rhinitis substantially impacts patient quality of life: Findings from the Nasal Allergy Survey Assessing Limitations. The Journal of Family Practice, 61(2 Suppl), S5–S10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meltzer, E. O., Hamilos, D. L., Hadley, J. A., Lanza, D. C., Marple, B. F., Nicklas, R. A., et al. (2004). Rhinosinusitis: Establishing definitions for clinical research and patient care. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 114(6), 155–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moitra, S., Sen, S., Datta, A., Das, S., & Das, P. (2014). Study of allergenicity spectrum to aero allergens by skin prick testing. Austin Journal of Allergy, 1(1), 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Puc, M. (2012a). Artificial neural network model of the relationship between Betula pollen and meteorological factors in Szczecin (Poland). International Journal of Biometeorology, 56(2), 395–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Puc, M. (2012b). Influence of meteorological parameters and air pollution on hourly fluctuation of birch (Betula L.) and ash (Fraxinus L.) airborne pollen. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 19(4), 660.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raj, D., Lodha, R., Pandey, A., Mukherjee, A., Agrawal, A., Kabra, S. K., & New Delhi Childhood Asthma Study Group. (2013). Aeroallergen sensitization in childhood asthmatics in Northern India. Indian Pediatrics, 50(12), 1113–1118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez, S. F., Adams-Groom, B., Palacios, I. S., Caeiro, E., Brandao, R., Ferro, R., et al. (2014). Comparison of Poaceae pollen counts recorded at sites in Portugal, Spain and the UK. Aerobiologia, 31, 1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Šaulienė, I., Šukienė, L., Severova, E., & Kalnina, L. (2014). Comparison of Alnus, Corylus, Betula pollen seasons in Riga, Moscow and Vilnius. Aerobiologia, 30(4), 423–433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sauliene, I., & Veriankaite, L. (2012). Analysis of high allergenicity airborne pollen dispersion: Common ragweed study case in Lithuania. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 19(3), 415.

    Google Scholar 

  • Šikoparija, B., Smith, M., Skjøth, C. A., Radišić, P., Milkovska, S., Šimić, S., & Brandt, J. (2009). The Pannonian plain as a source of Ambrosia pollen in the Balkans. International Journal of Biometeorology, 53(3), 263–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siljamo, P., Sofiev, M., Filatova, E., Grewling, Ł., Jäger, S., Khoreva, E., et al. (2013). A numerical model of birch pollen emission and dispersion in the atmosphere. Model evaluation and sensitivity analysis. International Journal of Biometeorology, 57(1), 125–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skjøth, C. A., Baker, P., Sadyś, M., & Adams-Groom, B. (2014). Pollen from alder (Alnus sp.), birch (Betula sp.) and oak (Quercus sp.) in the UK originate from small woodlands. Urban Climate. doi:10.1016/j.uclim.2014.09.007.

  • Sofiev, M., Siljamo, P., Ranta, H., & Rantio-Lehtimäki, A. (2006). Towards numerical forecasting of long-range air transport of birch pollen: Theoretical considerations and a feasibility study. International Journal of Biometeorology, 50(6), 392–402.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song, M. R., & Park, J. S. (2013). Analysis of allergy symptoms and quality of life among university students with allergic rhinitis. Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science, 15(4), 264–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thibaudon, M., Šikoparija, B., Oliver, G., Smith, M., & Skjøth, C. A. (2014). Ragweed pollen source inventory for France—The second largest centre of Ambrosia in Europe. Atmospheric Environment, 83, 62–71.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Velasco-Jiménez, M. J., Alcázar, P., Valle, A., Trigo, M. M., Minero, F., Domínguez-Vilches, E., & Galán, C. (2014). Aerobiological and ecological study of the potentially allergenic ornamental plants in south Spain. Aerobiologia, 30(1), 91–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamauchi, K., Tamura, G., Akasaka, T., Chiba, T., Honda, K., Kishi, M., et al. (2009). Analysis of the comorbidity of bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis by questionnaire in 10,009 patients. Allergology International, 58(1), 55–61.

    Article  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 

  • Ziello, C., Sparks, T. H., Estrella, N., Belmonte, J., Bergmann, K. C., Bucher, E., et al. (2012). Changes to airborne pollen counts across Europe. PLoS ONE, 7(4), e34076.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ziska, L. H., & Caulfield, F. A. (2000). Rising CO2 and pollen production of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), a known allergy-inducing species: Implications for public health. Functional Plant Biology, 27(10), 893–898.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research is funded by the European Social Fund under the Global Grant measure VP1-3.1-ŠMM-07-K-03-069 “Genetic susceptibility for severe allergic rhinitis”. We thank Myles Byrne for critical reading of our manuscript. The authors also want to express their appreciation to PNNL and the OMICS.PNL.GOV website.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Research and Physics, Faculty of Technology and Natural Sciences, Šiauliai University, Vilniaus Street 141, 78353, Šiauliai, Lithuania

    Ingrida Šaulienė, Laura Šukienė, Denis Kainov & Jūratė Greičiuvienė

Authors
  1. Ingrida Šaulienė
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Laura Šukienė
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Denis Kainov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jūratė Greičiuvienė
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ingrida Šaulienė.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Šaulienė, I., Šukienė, L., Kainov, D. et al. The impact of pollen load on quality of life: a questionnaire-based study in Lithuania. Aerobiologia 32, 157–170 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-015-9387-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-015-9387-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation