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Airborne pollen of ornamental tree species in the NW of Spain

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Abstract

This study analyzed airborne pollen counts for the tree taxa most widely used for ornamental purposes in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula (Platanus, Cupressaceae, Olea, Myrtaceae, Cedrus, and Casuarina) at four sites (Vigo, Ourense, Santiago, and Lugo), using aerobiological data recorded over a long period (1993–2007). The abundance and the temporal and spatial distribution of these pollen types were analyzed, and the influence of weather-related factors on airborne pollen counts was assessed. Platanus (in Ourense) and Olea (in Vigo) were the taxa contributing most to pollen counts. In general terms, the results may be taken as indicators of potential risk for pollen-allergy sufferers and therefore used in planning future green areas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Sur, 15782, Santiago, Spain

    María Jesús Aira & María Fernández-González

  2. Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ciencias del Suelo, Facultad de Ciencias de Ourense, Universidad de Vigo, Campus As Lagoas, 32004, Ourense, Spain

    Francisco Javier Rodríguez-Rajo & Victoria Jato

Authors
  1. María Jesús Aira
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  2. Francisco Javier Rodríguez-Rajo
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  3. María Fernández-González
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  4. Victoria Jato
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Correspondence to María Jesús Aira.

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Aira, M.J., Rodríguez-Rajo, F.J., Fernández-González, M. et al. Airborne pollen of ornamental tree species in the NW of Spain. Environ Monit Assess 173, 765–775 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1421-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1421-8

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