The effects of meteorological conditions on allergenic airborne pollen in arid Northwest China

Abstract

Understanding the variations in temporal allergenic airborne pollen (AAP) distribution and the mechanisms of pollen release and dispersal during pollen season is fundamental for predicting respiratory allergies, as well as assessing the effects of meteorological conditions on vegetation. In this paper, we described the seasonal variations of in situ AAP for dominant taxa in samples obtained from 11 May 2019 to 31 March 2022, with uninterrupted quasi-monthly sampling time intervals (22–48 days). We also discussed how meteorological factors drive pollen variations in an arid region of Northwest China through correlation analysis and the HYSPLIT model. Results showed: (1) The three most prevalent AAP taxa were Artemisia (65.1% by average), Amaranthaceae (13.5% by average), and Poaceae (6.5% by average), with a high cumulative pollen concentration (CPC) value during July–September period. (2) The duration and total CPC in pollen season were shorter and lower in 2020 than that in 2019 and 2021, which were attributed to the lower precipitation and higher temperature from July to September 2020. In contrast, the wind was the dominant factor influencing each sample's CPC in the non-pollen season. (3) Both the predominant potential source area (PSA) and short transport pathways suggested AAP mainly comes from the local and regional areas. (4) There would be a serious risk of allergy to the three AAP types, especially Artemisia. Our results reveal that precipitation and temperature during July–September have an immediate effect on the characteristics of the AAP pollen season in arid regions.