Aerobiological studies – current state and future challenges

Abstract

Aerobiology is the interdisciplinary science focused on the study of airborne organisms and biological materials, like pollen grains, fungal spores, bacteria, viruses, mycotoxins. The results of the aerobiological monitoring are practically employed in medicine, agriculture, beekeeping, meteorology, monument protection. The information of the current and predicted exposure is transmitted to patients and physicians through the electronic tools, applications, media, to compile the optimal therapy of respiratory diseases, especially pollen allergy. It is worth taking into account some confirmed phenomena to interpret the aerobiological data correctly: (i) many airborne particles occur seasonally and their amount and seasonal dynamics are more or less variable; (ii) threshold values for the airborne particles causing the threat for humans (e.g. for allergic individuals) are important, but the personal sensitivity must be also included; (iii) overlapping occurrence of different airborne particles, like pollen, spores, pollution makes clinical symptoms worsening; (iv) modern pollen and spores fall is affected in direct and indirect way by the climate changes, anthropogenic pollution, long range transport and the specific local environmental conditions. Currently the implementation of the automatic measurement systems and the analyses of allergen particles in the air are the main challenges for aerobiologists. Joined activity of this group of enthusiastic specialists of different interests is performed in frame of the multi centre networks and supported by the International Association for Aerobiology together with the regional.