Abstract
The course of <i>Alnus</i> spp. pollen seasons was compared in two cities, Lublin and Warsaw, located at a small distance from each other but included in different climatic regions of Poland. The studies were conducted using the volumetric method. It was shown that <i>Alnus</i> pollen seasons started in Warsaw earlier and were much shorter than in Lublin. The span between the start dates of pollen seasons was similar and it was 53-54 days. Peak days occurred in both cities most often in the second decade of March, but in Warsaw they were recorded several days earlier. Maximum concentrations reached higher values in Lublin, whereas annual totals were higher in Warsaw. The number of days with the concentration > 50 pollen grains × m<sup>-3</sup> per 24 hours was 5-27 days for Warsaw and 10-19 days for Lublin over 7 years of study.
Highlights
In pollen seasons in Lublin and Warszawa (Poland) three species from the genus Alnus and their hybrids occur (Seneta and Dolatowski, 2007)
Maximum concentrations reached higher values in Lublin, whereas annual totals were higher in Warsaw
Studies conducted in Warsaw demonstrate that in the close vicinity of flowering alder trees the average daily concentration of pollen of this taxon may reach 440,000 pollen grains in 1 m3 of air, a value which exceeds many times concentrations recorded in the city centre (Rapiejko, 2003; Rapiejko et al 2003)
Summary
In Poland three species from the genus Alnus and their hybrids occur (Seneta and Dolatowski, 2007). Alnus glutinosa L. and A. incana L. trees grow in the lowland and in lower mountainous areas, whereas A. viridis shrubs are noted only in the Western Bieszczady Mountains (Szweykowska and Szweykowski , 1993; Zając and Zając , 2001). The two former species grow on water edges and lowland bogs, forming a swampy type of deciduous forests called alder woods of great ecological significance. Alnus incana is a pioneer species used in the recultivation of post-industrial areas (Seneta and Dolatowski , 2007). Alder pollen grains are transported by the wind for long and very long distances. It is favoured by their small size and the low falling velocity. The threshold value is taken to be pollen grains in m3 per 24 h at which pollen allergy symptoms occur (Rantio - Lehtimäki et al.1991) or 45 pollen grains in m3 for polish population (Rapiejko et al 2004)
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