Abstract
The influence of atmospheric circulation conditions on pollen concentrations of two taxons (Betula and Alnus) in Wroclaw, Poland, for the years 2005–2014 was analysed. Pollen concentration was analysed separately for twenty circulation types that were determined using objective classification. The results indicate the atmospheric circulation conditions favourable for both low and high pollen concentrations over Central Europe. Pollen concentrations vary significantly according to circulation types. The highest pollen concentrations for both taxons are typical for warm, sunny, and dry anticyclonic circulation types with anticyclone in the lower and upper troposphere, especially for types with advection from the SW. The lowest pollen concentrations are observed for cold, wet, and cloudy cyclonic types with advection from the northern sectors. There is also a positive and statistically significant trend in the frequency of circulation types favourable for high concentrations of Betula and Alnus.
Highlights
According to the epidemiology of allergic diseases, on average 14.9% of Poles’ show weakly positive reactions to birch pollen and almost 8.1% show allergy symptoms
We have described the relations between Alnus and Betula pollen concentrations on the one hand and atmospheric circulation types on the other, based on data from 10 pollen seasons gathered at Wroclaw, SW Poland
The results show that pollen concentrations vary significantly according to circulation types
Summary
According to the epidemiology of allergic diseases, on average 14.9% of Poles’ show weakly positive reactions to birch pollen and almost 8.1% show allergy symptoms. Relations between the clinical picture of allergic diseases and the level of pollen count in Poland have been studied by Rapiejko et al (2007). Their study has shown that the first symptoms of the upper respiratory track in patients allergic to birch were visible during exposure to concentrations of 20 pollen m-3 (25% of subjects were sensitized to birch pollen). Symptoms were noted in all the subjects sensitized to birch pollen at concentrations of approximately 75 pollen m-3, and at concentrations of 120 pollen m-3, the symptoms were intensified. For the alder, these values were 45 pollen m-3 (first symptoms), 85 pollen m-3 (symptoms in all sensitized subjects), and 95 pollen m-3 (intensified symptoms), respectively
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