Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Urban airborne pollen in a semiarid environment

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

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to determine the pollen types and their quantities in the atmosphere of Obregón City (a semiarid region) and establish the relationship with meteorological parameters in 2008 and 2011. A bimodal pattern with peaks in dry warm (spring) and late rainy (autumn) seasons was observed. The highest monthly pollen indexes were observed in October 2008 and September 2011. Precipitation in 2008 was 2.6 times higher than in 2011, beginning in June in both years, and ending in November (2008) and September (2011). Main pollen types were Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae and Parkinsonia (the latter was dominant in the dry warm season). Statistical correlations (Spearman’s rank-order correlation p < 0.05) with meteorological parameters were performed. In both sampling years, relative humidity caused adverse effects on the atmospheric pollen content, while temperature, solar radiation and wind speed in the dry season were associated with increased pollen indexes. Compared to other studies of semiarid areas, the pollen index at Obregón is low, which is attributed to a relatively high humidity and to the large area of grain crops surrounding the city.

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

References

  • Agroson. (2013). Red estatal de estaciones meteorológicas de Sonora. www.agroson.org.mx. Accessed 02 December 2013.

  • Ahumada-Valdez, S., Quintero-Núñez, N., García-Cueto, O. R., & Venegas, R. (2009). Annual study of airborne pollen in Mexicali, Baja California, México. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 123, 173–182.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alba-Sánchez, F., Sabariego-Ruíz, S., Díaz de la Guaria, C., Nieto-Lugilde, D., & De linares, C. (2010). Aerobiological behavior of six anemophilus taxa in semi-arid environments of southern Europe (Almeria, SE Spain). Journal of Arid Environments, 74, 1382–1391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barros, S. (2010). El género Prosopis, valioso recurso forestal de las zonas áridas y semiáridas del América, Asia y África. Ciencia e Investigación Forestal, 16(1), 91–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belmonte, J., Cuevas, E., Poza, P., Gonzáles, R., Roure, J. M., Puigdemunt, R., et al. (2010). Aerobiologia y alergias respiratorias de Tenerife. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino, España: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bousquet, J., & Khaltaev, N. (2007). Global surveillance, prevention and control of chronic respiratory diseases: A comprehensive approach. Global alliance against chronic respiratory diseases. Geneva: World Health Organization Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowers, J. E., & Dimmitt, M. A. (1994). Flowering phenology of six woody plants in the northern Sonoran Desert. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, 121, 215–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowers, J. E., & Turner, R. M. (2002). The influence of climatic variability on local population dynamics of Cercidium microphyllum (foothill paloverde). Oecologia, 130, 105–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brito-Castillo, L., Crimmins, M. A., & Díaz, S. C. (2010). Clima. In F. E. Molina-Freaner & T. R. Van-Devender (Eds.), Diversidad biológica de Sonora (pp. 73–96). México: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bronillet, I. (1996). An annual study of airborne pollen in northern Mexico City. Aerobiologia, 12(1), 191–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burch, M., & Levetin, E. (2002). Effects of meteorological conditions on spore plumes. International Journal of Biometeorology, 46, 107–117.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calderón-Ezquerro, M. C., Fuentes-Rojas, F., Guerrero-Guerra, C., Téllez-Unzuenta, F., Martínez-López, B., Calderón-Segura, M. E., et al. (2015). The first airborne pollen calendar and its relationship with bioclimatic factors in Mexico City. Aerobiologia,. doi:10.1007/s10453-015-9392-4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Damialis, A., & Konstantinou, G. (2011). Cereal pollen sensitisation in pollen allergic patients: To treat or not to treat? Euopean Annals of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 43(2), 36–44.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Datta, K., Chatterjee, A., Nigam, D., Singh, S. P., & Verma, P. C. (2012). Recent scenario of airborne pollens of Lucknow India with special reference to intra and inter annual, diurnal and vertical variation. Research and Reports in Biodiversity Studies, 2, 21–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Felger, R., Johnson, M., & Wilson, F. (2001). The trees of Sonora, Mexico. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galán, C., Cariñanos, P., Alcázar, P., & Domínguez-Vilches, E. (2007). Spanish aerobiology network: Management and quality manual. Spain: Universidad de Cordoba Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • García, E. (1973). Modificaciones al sistema de clasificación climática de Köppen (para adaptarlo a las condiciones de la República Mexicana). México: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzáles-Díaz, S. N., Rodríguez-Ortiz, P. G., Arias-Cruz, A., Macías-Weinmann, A., Cid-Guerrero, D., & Sedo-Mejía, G. A. (2010). Atmospheric pollen count in Monterrey, Mexico. Allergy Asthma Proceeding, 31(4), 341–348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ianovici, N., Panaitescu, C. B., & Brudiu, I. (2013). Analysis of airborne allergenic pollen spectrum for 2009 in Timisoara, Romania. Aerobiologia, 29, 95–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • INEGI. (2010). Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía. México: Censo de población y vivienda del Estado de Sonora.

    Google Scholar 

  • Izquierdo, R., Belmonte, J., Ávila, A., Alarcón, M., Cuevas, E., & Alonso-Pérez, S. (2011). Source areas and long-range transport of pollen from continental land to Tenerife (Canary Islands). International Journal of Biometeorology, 55, 67–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Latorre, F., & Belmonte, J. (2004). Temporal and spatial distribution of atmospheric Poaceae pollen in Catalonia (NE Spain) in 1996–2001. Grana, 43, 156–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lorenzoni-Chiesura, F., Giorato, M., & Marcer, G. (2000). Allergy to pollen of urban cultivated plants. Aerobiologia, 16, 313–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mao, B., Ma, K., Wu, J., Tang, R., Luo, R., Zhang, Y., & Bao, L. (2012). Distribution pattern of allergenic plants in the Beijing metropolitan region. Aerobiologia, 29, 217–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monteverde, A. (2015). Población propensa a alergias en Hermosillo, Sonora. http://www.uniradionoticias.com/noticias/hermosillo/263464/propenso-a-las-alergias-20-de-la-poblacion-issste.html. Accessed 27 January 2015.

  • Moreno-Grau, S., Angosto, J. M., Elvira-Rendueles, B., Bayo, J., Moreno, J., & Moreno-Clavel, J. (2000). Effects of meteorological parameters and plant distribution on Chenopodiaceae–Amaranthaceae, Quercus and Olea airborne pollen concentrations in the atmosphere of Cartagena (Spain). Aerobiologia, 16(1), 17–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murray, M. G., Galán, C., & Villamil, C. B. (2008). Aeropalynological research in Salitral de la Vidriera, Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Aerobiologia, 24(4), 181–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nayar, T. S., & Jothish, P. S. (2013). An assessment of the air quality indoor and outdoor air with reference to fungal spores and pollen grains in four working environments in Kerala, India. Aerobiologia, 29, 131–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nitiu, D. S., Mallo, A. C., & Romero, E. J. (2003). Quantitative aeropalynology in the atmosphere of Buenos Aires city, Argentina. Aerobiologia, 19, 1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Rourke, M. K. (1986). The implications of atmospheric pollen rain for fossil pollen profiles in the arid southwest. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Arizona, Tucson.

  • Orvis, K. H. (1998). Modern surface pollen from three transects across the southern Sonoran Desert margin, northwestern Mexico. Palynology, 22, 192–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rizzi-Longo, L., Pizzulin-Sauli, M., Stravisi, F., & Ganis, P. (2007). Airborne pollen calendar for Trieste (Italy), 1990–2004. Grana, 46(2), 98–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rocha-Estrada, A., Alvarado Vázquez, M. A., Foroughbakhch Pournavab, R., & Hernández Piñero, J. (2009). Polen atmosférico de importancia alergológica en el área metropolitana de Monterrey (Nuevo León, México), durante el periodo marzo 2003: Febrero 2005. Polibotanica, 28, 191–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weather Underground (2014). The Weather Channel, LLC. http://www.wunderground.com/. Accessed 14 September 2014.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas, de la Universidad de Sonora, Edificio 7-G, Luis Donaldo Colosio s/n, entre Sahuaripa y Reforma Colonia Centro, 83000, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico

    Maribel Moreno-Sarmiento, M. Cristina Peñalba & M. Magdalena Ortega-Nieblas

  2. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA), Edifici Z, Carrer de les Columnes s/n, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus de Bellaterra, 08193, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain

    Jordina Belmonte

  3. Departament de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain

    Jordina Belmonte

  4. Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, circuito exterior s/n, 04510, Ciudad Universitaria, Del. Coyoacán, Mexico, D.F., Mexico

    Irma Rosas

  5. División de Ingeniería Ambiental, Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Cajeme, carretera Internacional a Nogales Km. 2 s/n, 85000, Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico

    Martín Villa-Ibarra

  6. Departamento de Biotecnología y Ciencias Alimentarias, Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, 5 de febrero #818 Sur, 85000, Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico

    Fernando Lares-Villa

  7. Departamento de Inmunología Clínica y Alergia, Clínica Hospital San José, No Reelección #100, 85000, Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico

    L. Julián Pizano-Nazara

Authors
  1. Maribel Moreno-Sarmiento
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Cristina Peñalba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jordina Belmonte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Irma Rosas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. Magdalena Ortega-Nieblas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Martín Villa-Ibarra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Fernando Lares-Villa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. L. Julián Pizano-Nazara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maribel Moreno-Sarmiento.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Moreno-Sarmiento, M., Peñalba, M.C., Belmonte, J. et al. Urban airborne pollen in a semiarid environment. Aerobiologia 32, 363–370 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-015-9401-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-015-9401-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation