Footprint areas of pollen from alder (Alnus) and birch (Betula) in the UK (Worcester) and Poland (Wrocław) during 2005–2014

Carsten Ambelas Skjøth,Małgorzata Malkiewicz,Anetta Drzeniecka-Osiadacz,Daria Bilińska,Małgorzata Werner,Beverley Adams-Groom,Maciej Kryza

doi:10.5586/aa.2015.044

Abstract

In this study we analyzed daily pollen concentrations of Alnus spp. and Betula spp. from Worcester, UK and Wrocław, Poland. We analyzed seasonality, annual pollen index and footprint areas for the observed pollen concentrations by using the trajectory model hybrid single particle Lagrangian integrated trajectory (HYSPLIT). We examined 10 years of data during the period 2005–2014 and found substantial differences in the seasonality, pollen indices and footprint areas. For both genera, concentrations in Wrocław are in general much higher, the seasons are shorter and therefore more intense than in Worcester. The reasons appear to be related to the differences in overall climate between the two sites and more abundant sources in Poland than in England. The footprint areas suggest that the source of the pollen grains are mainly local trees but appear to be augmented by remote sources, in particular for Betula spp. but only to a small degree for Alnus spp. For Betula spp., both sites appear to get contributions from areas in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, while known Betula spp. rich regions in Russia, Belarus and Scandinavia had a very limited impact on the pollen concentrations in Worcester and Wrocław. Substantial and systematic variations in pollen indices are seen for Betula spp. in Wrocław with high values every second year while a similar pattern is not observed for Worcester. This pattern was not reproduced for Alnus spp.

Highlights

Pollen from Betula spp. and Alnus spp. is highly allergenic [1]
We studied a 10 year period in two contrasting biogeographical regions: central England (Worcester), which has a maritime climate and south west Poland (Wrocław) which has a more continental climate
The seasonal pollen index was lower in Wrocław for the two years 2007 and 2009

Summary

Introduction

Pollen from Betula spp. (hereafter Betula) and Alnus spp. (hereafter Alnus) is highly allergenic [1]. (hereafter Alnus) is highly allergenic [1]. Alnus belong to the Betulaceae family and the pollen from this group of trees includes significant cross reaction [2]. In Europe, Betula is both the most abundant [3] and the most important aeroallergen from the Betulaceae family [4]. Other genera from this group produce important aeroallergens [2,5], especially if they are present in large quantities. In Europe, the sensitization rates for both. Betula and Alnus are difficult to estimate among the general population. A study on patients visiting specialist centers within the Global Asthma and Allergy European

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