Impact of Plane Tree Abundance on Temporal and Spatial Variations in Pollen Concentration

Beatriz Lara,Rosa Pérez-Badia,Jesús Rojo,Antonio González-García-Saavedra,Federico Fernández-González,Mariano D Serrano-Bravo

doi:10.3390/f11080817

Abstract

Many ornamental species growing in cities have considerable allergenic potential and pose a risk to allergy sufferers. Such species include members of the genus Platanus, or London plane tree, which is increasingly prevalent in a number of southern European cities. Analysis of airborne pollen concentrations enables biological air quality to be assessed, and also provides information on the local distribution of vegetation. The aim of this study was to analyze trends in annual Platanus pollen concentrations in central Spain and to determine the extent to which they are linked to the presence of this species in urban green spaces. The results point to a correlation between the growing number of plane trees and an increase both in the annual pollen index and in the number of days on which allergy sufferers are at risk. Analysis suggests that variations in the diversity and abundance of allergenic ornamental species in urban green spaces may account for the trends observed in the dynamics and behavior of airborne pollen from these species. The results obtained in studies of this kind should be reflected in urban green-space management plans, in order to decrease the allergenic load and thus both reduce exposure to allergenic pollen and improve air quality in these spaces.

Highlights

Urban green spaces promote the quality of life of local residents thanks to the well-being associated with having a place to relax, socialize and undertake sporting activities [1,2,3]
A significant positive trend was observed for number of allergenic risk days in Albacete, Cuenca, Guadalajara and Toledo (Figure 3)
The present study indicates a direct correlation between rising annual Platanus pollen levels and increasing plane tree populations in urban areas of the Mediterranean region

Summary

Introduction

Urban green spaces promote the quality of life of local residents thanks to the well-being associated with having a place to relax, socialize and undertake sporting activities [1,2,3]. Urban green spaces pose a number of public–health problems, including increased exposure to allergenic pollen from certain ornamental species [4,5,6]. Due to the complex physiology and ecological functioning of plant species, efforts to select ornamental species offering certain social and economic advantages (increased shade, rapid growth) may lead to undesirable side-effects for local allergy-sufferers, including increased aeroallergen production [8]. Airborne pollen records provide valuable information on biological air quality, and on the distribution of local vegetation [11]. Pollen records provide information on the nature and magnitude of variations occurring as a result of changes in flora and vegetation [12,16]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion