Concentration Of Pollen Grains Research Articles

Analysis of Corylus pollen season in Poland in 2020

In Poland hazel is one of the earliest flowering plants and in phenology it belongs to indicator plants that mark the beginning of early spring. Hazel pollen grains contain allergens that are a cause of pollen allergy during the early spring period. The aim of the present study was to compare Corylus pollen seasons in 2020 in the following 11 cities located in different regions of Poland: Szczecin, Bydgoszcz, Zielona Gora, Wroclaw, Opole, Sosnowiec, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Warsaw, Lublin, Olsztyn, and Bialystok. This research was conducted using the volumetric method and Burkard or Lanzoni pollen samplers. Pollen season duration was determined by the 95% method. This study analyzed the specific parameters of the pollen season (start, end, peak value, peak date, annual total) and also determined the number of days with a concentration exceeding the threshold values at which the first allergy symptoms in people sensitized to hazel pollen and symptoms in all allergic patients occur, respectively. The hazel pollen season in 2020 began relatively early, between January 11th and February 2nd. The season start was recorded earliest in Opole and latest in Olsztyn and Bialystok. The study found that the pollen season started earlier in the western part of Poland than in the eastern regions. The highest maximum Corylus pollen concentration was recorded in Lublin (388 P/m3), whereas the lowest one in Bydgoszcz (48 P/m3). The maximum daily concentration of Corylus pollen grains was recorded in different periods in the individual cities, while the peak concentration values occurred between January 31th and March 4th. The highest risk of allergy in people sensitive to the pollen of this taxon was found in Lublin since the most days with a pollen concentration exceeding the threshold value were observed in this city. Lublin was found to have the highest annual total values and they were 1.6–5.6 times higher than in the other cities. The highest annual pollen sums and peak values as well as the highest number of days with a concentration exceeding the threshold value had also been recorded in Lublin previously.

Height and hourly variations in the concentration of airborne pollen grains and fungal spores in Sosnowiec (Poland)

The aim of the work was to compare the qualitative and quantitative composition of aeroplankton in Sosnowiec (Poland) at three heights. The research was conducted on July 3rd, 4th and 5th, 2018 with the help of three Burkard spore traps: one stationary and two portable ones. The analyses were carried out at an altitude of 83 m, 15 m and at the ground level. Aerobiological data was recorded every hour and the collected pollen grains and fungal spores were determined later on. The relationships between individual meteorological conditions and different features of the alder pollen season were determined using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients. The research has shown that the greatest fluctuations in the daily pollen count occurred at the lowest measuring point, i.e. at the ground level. The largest part of the determined palynomorphs were fungal spores, the most numerous of which was Cladosporium, followed by Alternaria, Epicoccum and Botrytis. Statistical analysis showed that the highest concentrations of fungal spores and plant pollen grains were influenced by wind speed, maximum gust of wind and solar radiation.

Allergenicity of the urban green areas in the city of Córdoba (Spain)

Gardens provide from the antiquity a place of easing and leisure for the human being. The development of gardens in cities carries the creation of a green space that serves as support to the oxygenation of the air in these and participate in the mitigation of pollution. However, sometimes these parks and gardens can generate health problems in residents due to the presence of species that release high concentrations of allergenic pollen grains into the atmosphere. This work presents a study of potential allergenicity of urban green areas in the city of Córdoba (Spain) to observe if these spaces could be considered as a problem for public health due to its poor air quality. The results obtained suggest that some study spaces present a moderate-hight allergenic potential and could represent a risk to the citizens. The main causes of this rate in these areas have been the abundance of individuals of allergenic species, concentrated in a small area.

Artificial neural models of concentrations of fungal spores in the airfor aerobiological research

This article describes in detail an advanced statistical method, the artificial neural network, and the possibilities for its application in aerobiological analyses. The study and models involve the concentration of fungal spores in the air and their relationship with various biological and environmental factors. The author hopes that this work will contribute to a wider use of this method not only in the study of spores but also the concentration of pollen grains.

Allergenic Ambrosia pollen grains in the air of some Polish cities in 2019

Ambrosia is regarded as the most dangerous allergy-related plant posing a considerable threat to human health with its highly allergenic pollen. In Europe, there are 4 Ambrosia species originating from North America; they most often colonize ruderal habitats and agricultural fields. The aim of the study was to compare Ambrosia pollen seasons in 9 cities located in different parts of Poland in 2019. Aerobiological tests were conducted in Bialystok, Bydgoszcz, Lublin, Olsztyn, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Sosnowiec, Szczecin, Warsaw, and Wroclaw. The investigations were carried out with the volumetric method using Burkard or Lanzoni pollen samplers. The 98% method was used to determine the duration of the pollen season. The earliest onset of the pollen season was recorded in Szczecin (August 7th) and Sosnowiec (August 9th), whereas the latest beginning was noted in Wroclaw (August 22nd) and Bydgoszcz (August 21st). The longest pollen season was recorded in Sosnowiec (52 days) as well as Lublin and Szczecin (50 days), while the shortest pollen season was noted in Wroclaw (10 days). The highest mean daily concentrations of Ambrosia pollen grains were recorded in Sosnowiec (104 P/m3) and Wroclaw (77 P/m3), whereas the lowest value was obtained in Szczecin (18 P/m3). Peak days were noted mostly during the last 10 days of August. The highest value of Ambrosia annual pollen sum was reported from Sosnowiec (326) and Lublin (310), while the lowest sum was noted in Szczecin (69). The multimodal course of the graph presenting the pollen seasons in the analysed cities and literature data indicate that the pollen originated not only from local sources but also from long-distance transport. The highest risk of Ambrosia pollen-induced allergy in sensitive subjects was demonstrated in Lublin, Piotrkow Trybunalski and Warsaw. The concentration of Ambrosia pollen in the air of the analysed Polish cities was substantially lower than the values indicated by measurement stations located in other parts of Europe.

Characterisation of Tilia pollen seasons in 2018–2019

Literature reports suggest that Tilia pollen exhibits low or moderate allergenicity. The aim of the study was to compare the pollen seasons of this taxon in seven Polish cities in 2018 and 2019. The aerobiological research stations were located in Bialystok, Cracow, Lublin, Piotrkow Trybu-nalski, Sosnowiec, Szczecin, and Warsaw. Aerosol samples were collected with the volumetric method using Burkard or Lanzoni pollen samplers. The length of the pollen season was determined using the 95% method. The earliest onset of the Tilia pollen season was noted in Cracow in both years of the study. In 2018, it began already in May. The highest concentrations of lime pollen grains were recorded in Lublin, whereas the lowest values were reported from Bialystok and Cracow. The maximum daily Tilia pollen concentration was recorded in most of the measurement sites between June 6th and June 11th in 2018 and between June 16th and June 24th in 2019. The annual pollen grain sum in both study years was the highest in Lublin (971, 844), whereas the lowest values were noted in Bialystok (85, 102) and Cracow (111, 75). The concentrations of Tilia pollen in Lublin in 2018 and 2019 were several times higher than the mean values recorded in this city in 2001–2017. The allergen index calculated for Tilia trees growing in the centre of Lublin indicates a moderate allergenic threat posed by the pollen of this taxon to the residents of the city.

Pollen types in honey produced in caatinga vegetation, Brazil

Honey samples produced in the years 2010 and 2011, in an area of caatinga vegetation in the semi-arid region of Piauí State (Brazil), were analyzed using microscopy in order to track their botanical origin by the pollen grains present. Samples (19) were dissolved in ethanol and acetolyzed. The absolute concentration of pollen grains was obtained by comparison with the exotic marker Lycopodium clavatum L., and at least 500 pollen grains were counted per sample. The most diverse families were Leguminosae, Euphorbiaceae, Rubiaceae, and Myrtaceae, reflecting the characteristics of the semi-arid region and the caatinga, including endemic species. Samples from February (2010) showed a greater richness of pollen types, which is probably associated with the onset of the rainy season. Even during the dry season, there was honey production, with a considerable diversity of pollen types. This indicates that there are plant species in flower during the dry season that are important to sustaining bee colonies. Mimosa caesalpiniifolia and Pityrocarpa moniliformis were the only predominant pollen types; Coutarea and P. moniliformis were the secondary types. The pollen types Borreria verticillata, Combretum, Croton, Herissantia, Hyptis, Microtea, Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, M. misera, M. tenuiflora, P. moniliformis and Poaceae are very frequent in the analyzed honey, and characteristic of honey from Simplício Mendes. The absolute concentration analysis showed that 69% of the honey was classified in category I, 26% in category II and 5% in category III. A cluster analysis showed the formation of two major clades, one that shared many pollen types of Croton (S2) and another that shared the pollen types Borreria verticillata and Hyptis (S1). Two samples were considered monofloral honey (from M. caesalpiniifolia) and the remainder were considered heterofloral.

Do Conocarpus erectus airborne pollen grains exacerbate autumnal thunderstorm asthma attacks in Ahvaz, Iran?

A disastrous outbreak of thunderstorm-induced asthma attacks posed a major public health threat in Ahvaz, Iran in autumn of 2013 (>15,000 referrals to hospital emergency rooms and pulmonary clinics). City officials claimed that promoting factors included acid rain, particulate matter, ozone, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PAHS) could lead to this phenomenon. After these potential causes were rejected by careful research, the next possible cause that this study addresses is a potential link of the asthma attacks to airborne pollen grains and fungal spores. In order to sample these parameters, a Hirst-type volumetric spore sampler was used, which was installed on the rooftop of the sampling site. Sampling was done during two six-month periods to characterize the regional bioaerosol. The first period included the autumn (September 22 to December 20 of 2016) and winter seasons (December 21 of 2016 to March 19 of 2017), while the second period included the following autumn (September 23 to December 21 of 2017) and winter seasons (December 22 of 2017 to March 20 of 2018). In both studied periods, airborne weed pollen grains, especially Amaranthaceae sp., were by far the greatest contributor to total airborne pollen grain concentrations (50.45%, 3757 pollen grains/m3 and 52.12%, 2392 pollen grains/m3, respectively). Among fungal spores, Cladosporium had the highest concentrations (75.29%, 258677 spores/m3 and 80.33%, 247693 spores/m3, respectively). Findings also showed that concentrations of airborne pollen grains were higher in autumn seasons (6361 and 4167 pollen grains/m3, respectively) in comparison with winter seasons (1085 and 423 pollen grains/m3, respectively), while the concentrations of fungal spores were enhanced in winter seasons (189216 and 160962 spores/m3, respectively) versus autumn seasons (154377 and 147377 spores/m3, respectively). Fungal spores exhibited a uniform distribution during the entire study period, but airborne pollen grains were significantly higher in autumn seasons. The numbers of referrals associated with thunderstorm asthma attacks decreased drastically after implementing Conocarpus erectus tree pruning activities. We concluded that the autumnal thunderstorm asthma attacks in Ahvaz might be triggered by a combination of bio-allergens (fungal spores and airborne pollen grains such as from Conocarpus erectus) and high levels of air pollutants from industrial activity. The results of this work suggest controlling bio-allergen levels by preventive measures such as tree pruning, weed removal, and emasculating urban green infrastructures before the flowering season.

Corylus pollen season in Poland in 2019

The aim of the study was to compare the course of Corylus pollen season in 2019 in 12 cities located in different regions of Poland: Szczecin, Bydgoszcz, Zielona Gora, Wroclaw, Opole, Sosnowiec, Cracow, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Warsaw, Lublin, Olsztyn, and Bialystok. The analyses were carried out with the volumetric method using Burkard or Lanzoni pollen samplers. The length of the pollen season was determined with the 95% method. The earliest onset of the season was recorded in Warsaw and Szczecin, and at the latest beginning was noted in Lublin. The highest maximum concentrations of Corylus pollen were recorded in Lublin (244 P/m3), while Olsztyn (65 P/m3) as well as Bialystok and Bydgoszcz (66 P/m3 in each) were characterized by the lowest values. The maximum daily concentration of Corylus pollen grains was recorded in 3 cities in the second decade of February (16–19.02) and in the other eight cities in the third decade of February (24–28.02). The exception was Bialystok, where the peak value was only noted on 5.03. The annual pollen sum reached the highest values in Lublin (1301 grains) and Wroclaw (1031 grains). The highest risk of allergy in individuals sensitive to the pollen of this taxon was found in Lublin, Wroclaw, and Piotrkow Trybunalski. In Lublin, the highest hazel pollen concentrations were recorded in the earlier years of the investigations as well.

Do the threats of alder and birch allergenic pollen differ within an urban area?

Currently, the increasing frequency of inhalant allergy is often linked to the urbanization effect. The pollen forecasts for a given city are most often prepared using data from one aerobiological station. However, there is evidence that the pollen concentrations in the air might differ depending on the city area and the height of the pollen trap. This study evaluated the spatial differences in the daily concentrations of alder and birch pollen grains in an urban area in relation to the proximity of the pollen sources and meteorological parameters. Pollen grains were sampled in Rzeszów in 2014–2016 by three volumetric traps located at the roof and nose levels in two city areas that differed in the numbers of alder and birch trees. The daily pollen concentrations were categorized into three allergy symptom thresholds. The relationship between the daily pollen concentrations and meteorological variables was examined using a redundancy analysis and circular statistics. There were spatial differences in the pollen season intensity and, to a lesser extent, the variability in its course. Generally, higher concentrations were registered at the roof level and in the city suburbs than at the nose level and in the downtown area where alder and birch trees were less numerous. Despite the spatial variability of the pollen concentrations and the differences in the proximity and abundance of pollen sources, the risks for allergy sufferers were similar throughout the city. It was concluded that the main cause of this phenomenon is the high dispersal abilities of Alnus and Betula pollen grains. Although temperature seems to be a crucial factor that influences the airborne pollen of both taxa, several weather variables were found to have complex impacts on the daily concentrations.

Development of an integrated indicator for prognosis of pollinosis in the human population of Central Ukraine

Critical values of meteorological factors were identified for improvement of ecological and public health prognosis of the concentration of pollen grains in the air that increase the risk of allergy in the human population. Risk of allergy symptoms from <em>Ambrosia</em>, <em>Artemisia</em>, or Poaceae pollen arise when the pollen grain concentration in the air increases over threshold values. In this study, an integrated indicator – the “weather factor” WF, was developed. It was based on measurements of air temperature, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure. The results of the study can be used to assess the prognosis of the appearance of potentially dangerous concentrations of pollen grains in the atmosphere to predict the occurrence of pollinosis in the population of the central region of Ukraine, based upon weather factors.

Enrichment of airborne Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen in mountain ranges when passing through a front accompanying temperate low pressure

Values obtained by the real-time pollen monitors set up at 14 measuring points in the Tohoku region indicate that a large amount of Japanese cedar pollen was dispersed along the western region and northern flank of the Ou Mountain Range when a front accompanying the temperate low pressures passed through the west sea of northern Hokkaido. We are sure that this phenomenon is related to pollen enrichment by mountain ranges. The time at which highest concentrations of pollen grains were observed shifted from the western to the eastern side, in accordance with the path of the front. No pollen was seen after the passage of the cold front.

Building-integrated agriculture: A first assessment of aerobiological air quality in rooftop greenhouses (i-RTGs)

Building-integrated rooftop greenhouse (i-RTG) agriculture has intensified in recent years, due to the growing interest in the development of new agricultural spaces and in the promotion of food self-sufficiency in urban areas. This paper provides a first assessment of the indoor dynamics of bioaerosols in an i-RTG, with the aim of evaluating biological air quality in a tomato greenhouse near Barcelona. It evaluates the greenhouse workers' exposure to airborne pollen and fungal spores in order to prevent allergy problems associated with occupational tasks. Moreover, it evaluates whether the quality of the hot air accumulated in the i-RTG is adequate for recirculation to heat the building.Daily airborne pollen and fungal spore concentrations were measured simultaneously in the indoor and outdoor environments during the warm season. A total of 4,924pollengrains/m3 were observed in the i-RTG, with a peak of 334pollengrains/m3day, and a total of 295,038 fungal spores were observed, reaching a maximum concentration of 26,185spores/m3day. In general, the results showed that the most important source of pollen grains and fungal spores observed indoors was the outdoor environment. However, Solanaceae pollen and several fungal spore taxa, such as the allergenic Aspergillus/Penicillium, largely originated inside the greenhouses or were able to colonize the indoor environment under favourable growing conditions. Specific meteorological conditions and agricultural management tasks are related to the highest observed indoor concentrations of pollen grains and fungal spores. Therefore, preventive measures have been suggested in order to reduce or control the levels of bioaerosols indoors (to install a system to interrupt the recirculation of air to the building during critical periods or to implement appropriate air filters in ventilation air ducts). This first evaluation could help in making decisions to prevent the development of fungal diseases, specifically those due to Oidium and Torula.

Poaceae, Secale spp. and Artemisia spp. pollen in the air at two sites of different degrees of urbanisation.

Among herbal plants, most cases of allergic reactions, like seasonal inflammation of nasal mucosa, conjunctivitis and pollen asthma, are related to the allergens from grass pollen. As the blossoming and pollination of rye is known to start the pollen season of grasses, information about the airborne rye pollen count permits alerting the people allergic to certain allergens contained in rye pollen. An important cause of allergy is also the pollen from wormwood, blossoming in late summer, as its two main allergens produce cross-reactions with many other plant allergens. The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk of allergic reactions in persons with pollinosis on the basis of the pollen calendar, analysis of concentrations of pollen grains of grass and rye, and comparison of diurnal pattern of airborne pollen grain concentrations at two sites with different degrees of urbanisation (Gudowo in the country and the city of Szczecin) in 2012-2014. The concentration of pollen was measured by the volume method. Length of the pollination season was determined by the method of 98%, assuming that the beginning and the end of the pollen season are the days on which 1% and 99% of the annual sum of pollen appeared. The first pollen grains to appear in the air are those produced by rye, followed by those produced by grass and wormwood. The pollen seasons of grasses and wormwood started about one week earlier in Gudowo than in Szczecin, while the pollen season of rye started at almost the same time in the country and in the city. Airborne pollen counts of grasses, rye and wormwood were much higher in the country than in the city. The differences most probably result from the different floristic composition at these two sites and reflect the local contribution of the taxa studied in the country. The risk of allergy caused by the pollen of the taxa analysed was much higher in Gudowo (in the country), than in Szczecin city.

Ultraviolet laser-induced fluorescence lidar for pollen detection

Pollen is one of the important allergens in allergic diseases. The objective of this research effort is to investigate the use of a fluorescence lidar to measure concentrations of pollens in the atmosphere. The fluorescence lidar was constructed with a pulsed Nd:YAG laser, employing at fourth harmonic and second harmonic. A 250mm diameter custom telescope was used to receive optical spectra from 260 nm–560nm excited by 266nm, and R7506 Photomultiplier tubes for two linear orthogonal polarization applications at 532nm. Range-resolved fluorescence signals are collected in 32 channels of compound PMT sensor coupled with Czerny–Turner spectrograph. Based on the current configurations, we performed a series of simulations to estimate the measurement range and the concentration resolutions of pollens. With a relative error of less than 10%, theoretical analysis shows that the system is capable of identify a minimum concentration of pollen grains at 19 particlesL−1 and 1 particlesL−1 at daytime and nighttime within a range of 1.0km, which is capable of identify a minimum concentration of pollen grains at 903 particlesL−1 and 10 particlesL−1 at daytime and nighttime within a range of 5.0km.

A mid-Holocene vegetational and anthropogenic record in the Guanabara Bay region, Rio de Janeiro State, SE Brazil, assessed by palynological and charcoal data

Palynological and charcoal fragment analyses of Guanabara Bay sediments, as well as radiocarbon dating, were carried out on one 220 cm long sedimentary core collected from the northeast sector of the bay, near the São Gonçalo coast. This study aims at recognising and explaining the environmental history of this region during the mid-Holocene, and to identify the anthropogenic influences on it. The palynological data indicate the predominance of ombrophilous forest vegetation in the Guanabara Bay Hydrographic Basin at c. 6500 calendar years bp. During this period (pollen zone 1), the concentrations of pollen grains and spores may still have been controlled by the Holocene Maximum Transgressive Event. After a phase of low concentrations of palynomorphs, there was a considerable increase in the accumulation patterns of pollen and spore grains (pollen zone 2). This increase can probably be related to the retreat of the sea level event after the Holocene Maximum Transgressive Event. The 75 cm of the core top (pollen zone 3) provide clear evidence of human influence in the area, which is inferred from the significant reduction in ombrophilous forest pollen grains, the significant increase in herbaceous pollen grains, the presence of exotic pollen types (Eucalyptus and Pinus), and high concentration of carbonaceous particles.

Changes in the pollen seasons of Acer spp. in Lublin, central-eastern Poland, in 2001–2015

<p>Many plant species respond to the climate change reported in the recent decades, which is confirmed by the results of phenological and aerobiological investigations. This paper presents characteristics of the pollen seasons of <em>Acer</em> spp. revealed by aerobiological analyses performed with the volumetric method in Lublin, Poland in 2001–2015. Additionally, phenological observations of flowering of four <em>Acer</em> species, i.e., <em>A. negundo</em>, <em>A. platanoides</em>, <em>A. campestre</em>, and <em>A. pseudoplatanus</em>, were carried out in 2011–2012.</p><p>The results indicate a slight upward trend in the annual totals of <em>Acer</em> pollen grains. Over the last 10 years, the annual totals of <em>Acer</em> pollen grains have increased in comparison to the previous 5-year period. Acceleration of the onset of pollen seasons and the dates of peak days was noted. The comparison of the pollen seasons and flowering phenology of four <em>Acer</em> species indicates that <em>A. negundo</em> and <em>A. platanoides</em> produce the highest concentrations of pollen grains, whereas the pollen of <em>A. campestre</em> and <em>A. pseudoplatanus</em> accounts for a significantly lower proportion of the pollen content in the air of Lublin.</p>

Detection of airborne allergen (Pla a 1) in relation to Platanus pollen in Córdoba, SouthSpain.

Córdoba is one of the Spanish cities with the highest records of plane tree pollen grains in the air. Clinical studies have identified Platanus as a major cause of pollinosis. This fact provokes an important public health problem during early spring when these trees bloom. The objective of the study is to evaluate the correlation between airborne pollen counts and Pla a 1 aeroallergen concentrations in Córdoba, to elucidate if airborne pollen can be an accurate measure that helps to explain the prevalence of allergenic symptoms. Pollen sampling was performed during 2011-2012 using a Hirst-type sampler. Daily average concentration of pollen grains (pollen grains/m 3 ) was obtained following the methodology proposed by the Spanish Aerobiology Network. A multi-vial cyclone was used for the aeroallergen quantification. Allergenic particles were measured by ELISA using specific antibodies Pla a 1. The trend of Platanus pollen was characterized by a marked seasonality, reaching high concentrations in a short period of time. Airborne pollen and aeroallergen follow similar trends. The overlapping profile between both variables during both years shows that pollen and Pla a 1 are significantly correlated. The highest significant correlation coefficients were obtained during 2011 and for the post peak. Although some studies have found notable divergence between pollen and allergen concentrations in the air, in the case of Platanus in Córdoba, similar aerobiological dynamics between pollen and Pla a 1 have been found. Allergenic activity was found only during the plane tree pollen season, showing a close relationship with daily pollen concentrations. The obtained pollen potency was similar for both years of study. The results suggest that the allergenic response in sensitive patients to plane tree pollen coincide with the presence and magnitude of airborne pollen.

Pollen monitoring in Perm Krai (Russia) – experience of 6 years

Medical observations show that the level of pollinosis increased by 34.6% in central Russia in 2005–2012. This paper presents the results of 6-year pollen monitoring carried out with a Hirst-type pollen trap (Burkard Manufacturing Co. Ltd) between 2010 and 2015 in Perm Krai (Russia). Usually, sensitization of allergic people occurs in three periods: (i) spring due to the pollen of <em>Betula</em>, (ii) early summer due to Poaceae pollen, and (iii) late summer as a result of <em>Artemisia</em> pollen. <em>Betula</em> pollen, which is dominant (26.9–65.2% of total pollen counts), is recorded in large numbers in the period of flowering and occasionally during the entire period of pollination. Among herbaceous plants, the pollen of Poaceae, Urticaceae and <em>Artemisia</em> dominates in airborne pollen. The concentration of allergenic pollen grains in the air of Perm Krai is lower than in other European geographical regions.

Widespread dust deposition on North American peatlands coincident with European land-clearance

Ecosystems around the world are being subjected to numerous human disturbances. Climate change and land degradation are the most obvious of these disturbances and have received much attention. However, easily overlooked, indirect disturbances can also alter ecosystem structure and function. Dust deposition is a prime example of an easily overlooked disturbance process. We hypothesized that historic European settlement and land-clearance in eastern North America led to widespread wind erosion of upland soils and subsequent dust deposition onto otherwise undisturbed peatlands, potentially fertilizing these naturally nutrient-poor ecosystems and causing shifts in plant communities. We tested these hypotheses by analyzing 11 peat profiles collected across a broad region of eastern North America. We documented a strong correlation between the concentrations of Ambrosia pollen grains and microscopic mineral particles, interpreting this as a signal of dust deposition coincident with European settlement and land-clearance. Analysis of Sphagnum macrofossils revealed substantial site-to-site variability in both the degree and the direction of ecological response to dust deposition, but suggested that increasing magnitude of dust deposition increased the likelihood of a decline in the relative abundance of Sphagnum. Results also suggested that raised bogs were more sensitive to dust deposition than kettle peatlands. We conclude that European settlement and land-clearance resulted in widespread dust deposition on peatlands, leading to ecological changes in some of these ecosystems, and leaving behind a coherent dust horizon in the late-Holocene peatland stratigraphy of eastern North America. This easily overlooked indirect disturbance process could be ongoing today in areas of widespread soil disturbance and could potentially further alter dust-receiving ecosystems.