Pollen Monitoring in the City of Ivano-Frankivsk, Western Ukraine

Galyna Melnychenko,Nataliia Prokopiv,Myroslava Mylenka,Nadiia Riznychuk

doi:10.5586/aa.7341

Galyna Melnychenko, Nataliia Prokopiv + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.5586/aa.7341

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Abstract

The results of aeropalynological studies in Ivano-Frankivsk during 2013–2015 are presented in this article. The studies were conducted using a specially designed gravimetric Durham pollen trap installed at a height of 24 m from the ground. We determined that pollen grains of the following taxa dominate in the city’s aeropalynological spectrum: Corylus, Alnus, Betula, Populus, Fraxinus, Salix, Carpinus, Quercus, Pinus, Picea, Poaceae, Urticaceae, Artemisia, and Ambrosia. Pollen grains from woody plants dominate the aeropalynological spectrum. The considerable presence of the tree pollen grains in the ambient air is due to the geographical location of Ivano-Frankivsk in the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine. Pollen season of allergenic plants lasts from the second week of February to early October. The most unfavorable period for patients with pollen allergy in Ivano-Frankivsk is April, when there is a simultaneous appearance of high concentrations airborne allergenic pollen of Betula, Fraxinus, and Carpinus. From the second week of May to mid-July, high (&gt;50 pollen grains/m3) concentrations of allergenic pollen of the Poaceae family members are detected in the air. In the second half of August and early September, high concentrations of allergenic Ambrosia pollen were recorded in the city air. Conducting of pollen monitoring in the city is extremely necessary for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pollen allergy.

Highlights

Pollen is a major component of biological air pollution
Our research showed that the pollen of 24 taxa (17 taxa of woody plants and seven taxa of herbaceous plants) dominated the aeropalynological spectrum in the atmosphere of Ivano-Frankivsk
The first wave occurs in the spring and is attributed to the more intense pollen season of the tree species, while the second wave occurs in the summer–fall, and is attributed to herbaceous plants

Summary

Introduction

Pollen is a major component of biological air pollution. Inhalant allergic diseases are caused due to the presence of such allergens in the air. In various regions of Ukraine, pollinosis affects 20%–30% of the population (Pukhlyk, 2011). The data on the quantitative dynamics of allergenic pollen in a particular area form the basis for assessing and predicting the aero-allergenic situation. The concentration, species composition, and regularity of migration of allergenic pollen are closely related to the climate, relief, extent, and the anthropogenic activity in a particular region. To establish the regional uniqueness of the palynological spectrum of allergenic plants, aerobiological monitoring should be conducted

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