Abstract Background The European Aeroallergen Network (EAN) is a Europe-wide, noncommercial network for the standardized collection and analysis of pollen and fungal spores. It plays a central role in the research and prevention of inhalation allergies, such as the widespread birch pollen allergy. The EAN database facilitates international research, clinical studies, and the provision of daily pollen information by virtue of its extensive, quality-assured, long-term data. Methods The EAN database is a Java-based, two-stage web application with TLS-secured data transmission. Authorized users are permitted to upload pollen measurement data, analyze it, and make it available to others within the framework of scientific collaborations. The functionality of the database was examined through the utilization of four distinct application examples, with measurement stations located in three Austrian cities (Graz, Innsbruck, and Vienna) serving as the experimental setting: (1) calculation of base statistics for seasonal characterization, (2) completeness report for quality control, (3) comparison graphics for showing interannual differences, and (4) European maps based on pollen data from several hundred European pollen traps for the spatial visualization of pollen loads. Results The EAN data show that the 2025 birch pollen season began about 2 weeks later and was less intense than that of 2024. A decline in total pollen counts and peak concentrations was observed at all measuring stations, indicating a shift between mast and nonmast years. Completeness analyses were conducted to provide information on data quality and to facilitate the identification of missing periods. Comparative graphs illustrated annual and location-dependent differences in exposure, while European maps visualized the seasonal progression and long-range transport of birch pollen. Conclusion The results highlight the scientific and practical importance of the EAN database for allergy research, clinical studies, and pollen information services. The system was developed to promote international comparability, quality control, and forecasting. Furthermore, the EAN database is a valuable resource for aerobiological and climate research. The long-term records of aerobiological data reveal trends in flowering times, pollen concentrations, and mast years, as it has been shown for the birch pollen season in the present study. Consequently, these records can serve as biotic indicators of climate change.

Abstract. Vegetation change during the Last Glacial period in Europe plays a crucial role in better understanding the ecosystem dynamics response to abrupt climate change. Yet, most quantitative reconstructions of land-cover primarily focus on the Holocene and aim to disentangle the impact of anthropogenic and climatic stress on the vegetation. Here, we present temporally continuous land-cover reconstructions from Europe for the latter half of the Last Glacial period (60–20 ka BP) using the “Regional Estimates of Vegetation Abundance from Large Sites” (REVEALS) model. The pollen-based REVEALS model uniquely factors in plant-specific parameters, such as relative pollen productivity (RPP) and pollen fall speed to model pollen dispersal and thus provides more accurate representation of past vegetation cover than simple relations of fossil pollen counts. We compiled a total of 61 datasets from Europe and its bordering regions to model land-cover estimates across 60 time steps in 1000 year increments (Kern, 2024b). By grouping the 38 analysed taxa into 5 land-cover types (LCTs), we simplify the interpretation of our results, demonstrated in three selected periods during the Last Glacial: Greenland Interstadial 14 (GI-14), Greenland Stadial 9 (GS-9), and the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). These periods provide insight into stadial-interstadial vegetation variability as well as extreme glacial conditions, which seem to play a fundamental role in the demographic developments of Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers. Additionally, we compare the REVEALS land-cover estimates to raw pollen data, provide REVEALS standard errors, and discuss the reliability of our results as well as potential avenues to further improve the reliability of REVEALS estimates. To facilitate the use and interpretation of our data for a wide scientific audience, we developed the browser-based application PALVEG (https://oakern.shinyapps.io/PALVEG/, last access: 22 October 2025), which requires no prior programming experience and dynamically generates maps based on user input.

The association of climate-induced stressors on risk of negative sentiment: An analysis from 462 million geotagged tweets in Europe

Abstract. Modern pollen datasets can provide invaluable data for interpreting temporal variations in climate, vegetation, land cover, and plant diversity from fossil pollen. Here we present 555 pollen count data, identified from topsoil collected within plant plots across a vast area of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and along the southern margin of Xinjiang that borders the TP. This dataset fills a geographical gap in the published datasets that offer pollen count data for this area. Ordination analysis and multiple regression reveal that precipitation is the primary factor influencing the spatial distribution of pollen assemblages across the entire study area. Furthermore, ordination analysis indicates that pollen assemblages can be used to distinguish vegetation types in the southeastern TP, such as coniferous forest, alpine shrubland, and alpine meadow, from vegetation types found in other regions of TP. Additionally, it is possible to distinguish vegetation types that have low precipitation or moisture requirements based on pollen assemblages. Generalized additive models demonstrate that six commonly used pollen ratios, involving taxa such as Artemisia, Amaranthaceae, Cyperaceae, and Poaceae, are not sufficiently reliable for reflecting changes in annual precipitation. Nevertheless, they can provide some indication of changes in vegetation or landscape. This dataset holds various potential applications in paleoecological and paleoclimatic research. It not only offers a scientific foundation for reconstructing changes in climate and vegetation over time, but also enables the assessment of the reliability of pollen assemblages in representing the dynamics of vegetation cover, functional traits, and plant diversity, by integrating data on simultaneously measured plot-level plant communities and functional traits. Data from this study, including pollen count data for each sample and site, alongside the geographical coordinates, altitude, local vegetation type of each sampling site, dry weight of each sample used for pollen extraction, Lycopodium (marker) grains per tablet, and the identified number of Lycopodium spores, are available at https://doi.org/10.11888/Paleoenv.tpdc.302015 (Liao and Ni, 2025).

Thunderstorm asthma is an incompletely understood phenomenon with significant public health implications. Thunderstorm asthma has not previously been documented or scientifically investigated in South Australia. This study explored the association between severe thunderstorm activity and markers of asthma morbidity across six regions in South Australia over the period 2003 to 2017. The morbidity outcomes examined were ambulance callouts, emergency department presentations and hospital admissions for asthma among adults and children. Poisson regression analyses were used to explore the associations, adjusted for environmental covariates including daily weather variables, pollen counts and air pollutant concentrations (where available, noting that pollen count data were only available for a single location in Adelaide). Results demonstrate an increase in the risk of asthma in association with severe thunderstorm activity in the Adelaide Metropolitan and Hills region, particularly among children. Seasonal trends are apparent, with thunderstorms associated with an increase in the risk of childhood asthma in the warmer months in the Adelaide region. Interestingly, daily pollen count was not found to be a significant mediator in the relationship between thunderstorms and asthma in this study. Further research is needed to better understand the relationships between thunderstorms and asthma in South Australia and the potential role of aeroallergens and other environmental triggers.

The primary objective of this study is to describe the anther surface morphology and pollen characteristics (pollen count, size, shape, aperture, exine ornamentation and viability) of Momordica cymbalaria Hook. F to assist with taxonomic classification. Mature anthers and pollen grains were processed using traditional techniques and examined through light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and fluorescence microscopy (FM). The androecium is a (3) + (2) structure with bell (Ո)-shaped and crescent (C)-shaped anthers, respectively. SEM observations reveal that both anther types are monothecal and bisporangiate, displaying similar morphologies with irregular, polygonal cells. Prominent ridges are observed between microsporangia, along with multicellular and glandular trichomes at the connective base and between the folds of the thecae. Bell (Ո)-shaped and crescent (C)-shaped anthers produced an average of 904 and 911 pollen grains per anther, respectively. The mature pollen grain is monad, large, oblate, and three-colporate, and varies from circular in polar view to elliptical in equatorial view, featuring coarsely reticulate exine ornamentation. The average diameters of pollen grains are 42–43 μm and 46–47 μm for polar (P) and equatorial (E) views, respectively, with a P/E ratio of 0.92 for both bell (Ո)-shaped and crescent (C)-shaped anthers. The study found a 95 ± 0.87% pollen viability, confirmed by the fluorescein diacetate test. The present study is the first investigation into the anther surface morphology and pollen characteristics of the genus, which play a significant role in the taxonomy of Momordica, particularly M. cymbalaria. Pollen count and viability studies are crucial for future breeding programmes and commercial fruit production.

This study investigates the physicochemical properties, pollen composition, and antimicrobial activity of honey samples collected from Kars province, Türkiye. A total of 30 honey samples were analyzed for moisture content (13.9–18.0%), pH (3.44–3.92), electrical conductivity (0.138–0.343 mS/cm), free acidity (13.9–31.5 meq/kg), diastase activity (4.93–28.1 DN), hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) levels (3.5–37.1 mg/kg), sugar profile (fructose: 32.8–41.0%, glucose: 26.2–32.6%, sucrose: 0.1–2.7%, maltose: 1.4–2.7%), and proline content (288.87–1272.9 mg/kg). Pollen analysis identified 52 taxa from 30 botanical families, with Fabaceae, Boraginaceae, Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, and Brassicaceae being the most dominant. Of the honey samples, 27 were classified as multifloral and 3 as unifloral. Total pollen counts per 10 g (TPC-10 g) of honey ranged between Group II and Group V categories (2000 to > 100000 grains). The antimicrobial activity of the honey was evaluated against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bacillus subtilis using the agar well diffusion method. Inhibition zones ranged from 11 ± 0.55 mm to 24 ± 1.2 mm, with greater efficacy observed against Gram-positive bacteria. Significant correlations were found between diastase activity and Staphylococcus aureus (r = 0.704, p < 0.01) and Enterococcus faecalis (r = 0.518, p < 0.01), as well as between proline content and Klebsiella pneumoniae (r = 0.454, p < 0.05), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (r = 0.384, p < 0.05), Staphylococcus aureus (r = 0.439, p < 0.05), and Bacillus subtilis (r = 0.435, p < 0.05). The sugar composition complied with international standards, with fructose and glucose being the predominant sugars. HMF levels remained within acceptable limits, suggesting appropriate storage and processing conditions. Overall, the findings highlight the high quality and antimicrobial potential of Kars honey, supporting its value as a natural and functional food product.

Melissopalynology plays a pivotal role in ecological studies by identifying floral sources for honeybee nutrition and contributes to a better understanding of plant-pollinator interactions. It is essential for biodiversity monitoring, conservation efforts, and assessing the quality and authenticity of honey products based on pollen analysis. This study investigates the melissopalynological of honey samples collected from stingless bee species Heterotrigona itama (Hymenoptera: Apidae) at the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI). A total of 17 flower samples and 10 mL of honey were collected from one beehive and further analyzed using a light microscope. The analysis identified eight pollen types from eight distinct plant species from the honey sample. Clematis crispa was the most prominent, representing 21.74% of the total pollen count, followed by Combretum indicum (17.39%) and Cucumis sativus (17.39%). Lagerstroemia speciosa contributed 13.04%, Ageratum conyzoides and Averrhoa bilimbi each accounted for 8.70%, while Ipomoea purpurea and Clitoria ternatea contributed 8.70% and 4.35%, respectively. The results highlight the floral preferences of H. itama bee at MARDI. This comprehensive melissopalynological analysis contributes to biodiversity monitoring and conservation efforts by providing a better understanding of the floral resources used by stingless bee species in the MARDI ecosystem.

Objective: Airborne pollens are significant triggers of allergic rhinitis, atopic conjunctivitis, and asthma. The present study aimed to examine the patterns, quantities, and dynamic changes of airborne pollens in Phitsanulok, lower northern Thailand, during three periods, November 2006 to October 2007, August 2013 to July 2014, and August 2022 to July 2023. Materials and Methods: In 2006 to 2007, airborne pollens were collected using a Rotorod sampler positioned 1.5 to 2 meters above ground. In 2013 to 2014 and 2022 to 2023, pollens were collected using a Burkard seven-day volumetric spore trap positioned 15 meters above ground. The exposed rods and slides were stained for microscopic analysis. Meteorological data were also obtained. Results: Monthly airborne pollen counts ranged from 48 to 304 grains/m³ in 2006 to 2007, 28.1 to 110.8 grains/m³ in 2013 to 2014, and 60.7 to 151.7 grains/m³ in 2022 to 2023. Peaks occurred in February, May, and August in 2006 to 2007, December in 2013 to 2014, and February and December in 2022 to 2023. Wild grass and cultivated grass were the most and second most common pollen, respectively, across all three periods, with variations in the pollen types ranked third to tenth. Total annual rainfall from 2013 to 2014 was the lowest among the three periods. The highest temperatures and lowest humidity levels, recorded in April 2013 to 2014 and 2022 to 2023, corresponded to low pollen levels. Conclusion: The average monthly pollen count during 2022 to 2023 was lower than that recorded in 2006 to 2007 but slightly higher than in 2013 to 2014. Wild grass was the predominant pollen type over the 16-year period, with levels considered a high allergic risk.

Alerting residents and health services to thunderstorm-induced asthma: district-level insights on pollen counts and their impact on health services

This study presents the results of pollen analysis on honey samples collected from 85 different locations across all districts of Trabzon, Türkiye, during the months of June to October between 2009 and 2012. A total of 50 pollen taxa were identified, including 23 families, 25 genera, and 2 species. The most dominant pollen type was Castanea sativa, found in 65 samples, reflecting the regional floral characteristics. Lamiaceae was dominant in only one sample. Secondary pollen types commonly observed included Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Carduus, Cistus, Cynoglossum, Fabaceae, Hedysarum, Laurus nobilis, Rhododendron, and Rosaceae. Four samples were classified as monofloral honeys, all identified as Castanea sativa honey. Rhododendron, known for its toxic effects when present above a certain threshold in honey, was detected in 48 samples, indicating the necessity of evaluating these honeys in terms of consumer health. TPN-10 ranged from 2,845 to 1,525,683 per 10 g of honey. Correlation analysis showed that floral diversity increased with altitude, while cluster analysis indicated that total pollen count was the most influential factor in sample classification. These findings underline both the rich botanical diversity of Trabzon honeys and the impact of ecological variables on honey composition.

Allergic diseases are a major global public health issue, profoundly impacting the daily lives of millions of people worldwide. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between daily grass pollen concentration and daily physical symptoms as well as impairments in day-to-day life in pollen allergy patients in Bavaria, Germany over a period of three-months. Pollen data of the pollen season 2022 were obtained from the electronic pollen information network of Bavaria. We used an app-based questionnaire and developed an index to measure physical symptoms—regarding eyes and nose as well as impairments in day-to-day life including performance, sleep quality and daily activities. For our analyses we used data from 53 patients. The associations were analysed using linear mixed models (LMM). We found a statistically significant association between the level of grass pollen concentration and both the index physical symptoms (β = 0.002; p < 0.001) and the index impairments in day-to-day life (β = 0.00064; p < 0.048). It is important that patients are well informed about the pollen count as well as their physical symptoms and daily life impairments so that they can manage their allergies effectively and appropriately.

Comparison of airborne pollen and total stellate hair counts for six years between two sites in Sapporo

Impact of 2018 Japan floods on allergic rhinitis prescriptions.

Airborne pollen is a major contributor to allergic diseases. This study investigates the correlation between airborne pollen dynamics and allergic rhinitis (AR) incidence in Xi'an (2020-2023) and compared with 1984 data for informing evidence-based prevention strategies. The species and concentration of daily pollen in Xi'an were monitored for 4 consecutive years (2020-2023). Daily pollen concentrations were analyzed alongside clinical AR records from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University and public health awareness metrics (Baidu search indices for "allergic rhinitis", "pollen allergy", and "loratadine"). The pollen season in Xi'an occurred from March to May and from August to October, with higher concentrations in spring. Compared to the 1984 data, pollen counts increased significantly (+121.9%, P>0.05). Correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between pollen concentration and the number of AR patients during the autumn pollen season from 2020 to 2022 (r=0.307~0.636, P<0.05). "Pollen allergy" search index correlated positively lwith pollen concentration over the four-year autumn period (r=0.512~0.750, P<0.001), while trends for "allergic rhinitis" and "loratadine" search indices were less consistent, showing positive correlation only in the autumn pollen season. The public perception of sensitized pollen species in Xi'an did not match the actual AR-related pollen species. Pollen counts increased significantly in Xi'an, whereas pollen species diversity decreased in the last 40 years. Our results showed the 40-year characteristics comparison of pollen concentration in Xi'an can serve as a basis for developing effective preventive and management measures for patients with pollen-related allergies, including environmental control, timely pollen monitoring, desensitization therapy, and patient health education, to guide the scientific control and prevention of pollen-induced allergic diseases. This study underscores the need for integrated environmental and public health strategies to mitigate pollen-induced AR in rapidly urbanizing regions.

This paper presents the course of the pollen season of ragweed (Ambrosia) in selected cities of Poland (Lublin, Warsaw, Szczecin, Zielona Gora, Wroclaw and Bialystok) in 2024. The ragweed pollen grains are known as very potent aeroallergens, often noted to enter into cross reactions. This pollen is a common cause of pollinosis in North America. In Europe ragweed is an introduced species in the middle of an ongoing invasion event and, therefore, represents a case of a human population being exposed to increasing concentrations of this allergen. Measurements were performed by the volumetric method (Burkard and Lanzoni pollen samplers). Pollen season was defined as the period in which 98% of the annual total catch occurred. Seasonal Pollen Index (SPI) was estimated as the annual sum of daily average pollen concentrations. The pollen season of Ambrosia in 2024 started first in Wroclaw, on the 12th of August, then in Lublin and Warsaw, on the 15th and 16th of August (about 1–2 weeks earlier than in the other cities). This pollen season lasted between the 22nd of September and the 27th of September. The differences of pollen seasons durations were clear (from 27 to 44 days). The highest airborne concentration of 174 pollen grains/m3 was noted in Lublin on the 4th of September. The maximum values of seasonal pollen count occurred between 4th and 17th of September, only in Wrocław 28th of August. The highest ragweed pollen allergen hazard occurred in 2024 in Warsaw and lasted 23 days and in Lublin – 22 days and was high. So far, in various years in Poland, this threat lasted less than 10 days.

There is seasonal variability in the incidence of immune-related diseases among the general population. Data from two studies was evaluated to determine whether or not this seasonal variability is also present for ratings of immune fitness, i.e., the capacity of the body to respond to health challenges (such as infections) by activating an appropriate immune response, essential to maintain health, prevent and resolve disease, and improve quality of life. The first study comprises a between group comparison of participants that rated their past month’s immune fitness either in winter, spring or summer. The second longitudinal study comprised a within-subject comparison of participants that rated their momentary immune fitness two times in autumn, and subsequently in winter and summer. Both studies did not include any intervention. The analyses revealed no significant differences in immune fitness across the seasons. In conclusion, the impact of health challenges (e.g., the presence of rhinovirus or a greater pollen count) differs between seasons, and thereby can increase the chances of getting sick (e.g., common cold in winter or allergic rhinitis in spring). However, the data from the two studies presented here suggest that immune fitness does not vary across the seasons.

One thing that honeybees create that is very beneficial to human health is honey. Consequently, honey is frequently faked. With melissopalynology analysis, honey quality can be ascertained. A technique for analyzing pollen in honey to ascertain its botanical and geographic origin is called melissopalynology analysis.This study uses melissopalynology to analyze the quality and pollen composition of honey produced by Apis cerana bees in Dolago Village, Central Sulawesi. The research consists of five stages: collecting honey, extracting pollen from it using a modified acetolysis method, identifying pollen, classifying honey, and last, absolute pollen count. The analysis identified 11 plant species contributing to honey production, with Cocos nucifera as the predominant pollen (70%). Classified as unifloral honey with Group IV pollen richness, this research confirms the high quality and unique floral origin of Dolago honey, emphasizing its potential for local economic development.

Using K-Means Clustering to Predict the Relationship Between Pollen Count, Air Quality Index, and Asthma-Related Emergency Department Visits

Examining the Concordance of Local Pollen Data from Popular Weather Apps and a Pollen Counter