Variation in the Concentration of Tilia spp. Pollen in the Aeroplankton of Lublin and Szczecin, Poland

Abstract

Although lime trees have numerous benefits, they can pose a threat to allergy sufferers during the flowering period, as their pollen exhibits allergenic properties. This paper presents the results of 3 years of aerobiological research (2020-2022) carried out with the volumetric method in Lublin and Szczecin. A comparison of the pollen seasons in both cities revealed substantially higher concentrations of lime pollen in the air of Lublin than of Szczecin. In the individual years of the study, the maximum pollen concentrations were approximately 3-fold higher, and the annual pollen sum was about 2-3 times higher in Lublin than in Szczecin. Considerably higher lime pollen concentrations were recorded in both cities in 2020 than in the other years, which was probably associated with the 1.7-2.5 °C increase in the average temperature in April compared to the other two years. The maximum lime pollen concentrations were recorded during the last ten days of June or at the beginning of July in both Lublin and Szczecin. This period was associated with the greatest risk of pollen allergy development in sensitive subjects. The increased production of lime pollen in 2020 and in 2018-2019 with the increase in the mean temperature in April, reported in our previous study, may indicate a response of lime trees to the global warming phenomenon. Cumulative temperatures calculated for Tilia may serve as a basis for forecasting the beginning of the pollen season.