Comparative study of ragweed pollen seasons (2008–2017) in the air of Croatian tourist cities of Zagreb (continental area) and Zadar (Mediterranean area)

Abstract

The majority of tourists visit Croatia during the summer months, which overlaps with the ragweed pollination season, and this might be the main health issue, which could affect Croatian tourism. Therefore, the aim of this research was to perform the preliminary analyses of ragweed pollen seasons in two different Croatian tourist cities—continental Zagreb and Mediterranean Zadar, and to define researched areas according to the allergenic risk assessment. The research was performed during a 10-year period (2008–2017), and aerobiological samplings, as well as qualitative and quantitative analyses, were carried out by standard methodology recommended by EAN/REA. The results showed differences between cities in the seasonal pollen integral (SPIn) and intradiurnal variations index (IDI) of ragweed pollen, and similarities in the features of the main pollen seasons (MPS). The SPIn was higher in the air of Zagreb during the whole studied period; it was on average 2899 pg/m3 in Zagreb and 579 pg/m3 in Zadar. The MPS in both cities were similar (from the first half of August until the mid-September) and relatively short, around 40 days. The IDI indicates that Ambrosia pollen in Zagreb derives from local sources, whilst in Zadar is probably a result of long-range transport. According to the allergenic risk assessment, Zagreb is placed in the intermediate-risk area and Zadar in the low-risk area. Relatively short exposure times during the summer periods enable both cities to be favourable tourist destinations even during the ragweed seasons, especially Zadar, with its low ragweed pollen concentrations.