Pollen Counts Research Articles

Relationship between pollen counts and weather variables in the atmosphere of Mersin Province on the Eastern Mediterranean Coast of Turkey

This study researched atmospheric pollen from Mersin Province using the volumetric method between in 2016 and 2017. The daily, weekly, monthly, and annual distribution of the pollen obtained during the study was identified. The relationship between pollen and meteorological factors was researched using Spearman?s rho analysis. During the two-year study, 32,336 pollen grains/m3 from 40 different taxa [22 trees, 1 grass (Poaceae), and 17 other weeds] were identified. Of the total pollen, 82% belonged to trees, 6.8% to grasses, 11% to other weeds, and unidentified taxa accounted for 0.2%. In the first year, 17,070 pollen grains/m3 were identified in the atmosphere and 15,266 pollen grains/m3 were identified in the second year. The pollen concentration was at its peak between March and July. Pollen grains of the following taxa, listed according to density, were discovered in the atmosphere: Cupressaceae/Taxaceae (26.49%), Pinaceae (25.61%), Olea (12.76%), Urticaceae (7.00%), Poaceae (6.77%), and Fraxinus (5.06%). According to the statistical analysis while sunshine duration, relative humidity, and wind speed usually have a positive correlation, precipitation has a negative correlation with pollen concentration.

Ambient daily pollen levels in association with asthma exacerbation among children in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds can trigger asthma exacerbation in sensitized individuals. However, there are gaps in knowledge about the effects, such as the relative risks from different plant taxa and threshold levels of effect. We aimed to describe the local association between pollen and asthma exacerbation among children in the City of Philadelphia, and to evaluate whether effects are modified by children’s characteristics and clinical factors (e.g., child’s age, race/ethnicity, comorbidities). We conducted a time-stratified case-crossover study of pediatric (age <18 years) asthma exacerbation, with cases identified through electronic health records (EHR) of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) health system from March through October in the years 2011–2016. Daily pollen counts were obtained from the local National Allergy Bureau certified pollen counter. We applied conditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between the pollen level (vs. none detected) and odds of asthma exacerbation, adjusting for temperature, relative humidity, and holidays. We estimated same-day exposure effects, as well as effects from exposure lagged by up to 5 days. There were 35,040 asthma exacerbation events during the study period, with the majority occurring among black, non-Hispanic children (81.8%) and boys (60.4%). We found increased odds of asthma exacerbation among Philadelphia children in association with tree pollen, both for total tree pollen and most individual tree types. Increased odds from total tree pollen were observed at the lowest levels studied (≤5 grains/m3, unlagged, OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.10), and exhibited a positive exposure-response pattern of effect; tree pollen levels above 1000 grains/m3 (unlagged) were associated with 64% increased odds of asthma exacerbation (95% CI: 1.45, 1.84). Grass pollen was associated with asthma exacerbation only at levels above the 99th percentile (52 grains/m3), which occurred, on average, two days per year during the study period (with 2-day lag, OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.19, 1.60). There was an inverse association (reduced asthma exacerbation) with ragweed pollen that was consistent across analyses. Pollen from other weeds was associated with increased odds of asthma exacerbation, without a clear exposure-response pattern (2-day lag, significant increases ranging from 8% to 19%). Increased odds from tree pollen and weeds (other than ragweed) were higher among children with allergic rhinitis. While there are known benefits from urban vegetation for human health, there are risks as well. It is important to note, however, that pollen is released during a limited time frame each year, and advisories informed by local data can enable susceptible individuals to avoid outdoor exposure on high-risk days.

Goosefoot – a plant that likes drought. The goosefoot family pollen season in 2019 in Poland, Hungary and Slovakia

Almost all the species of the Chenopodiaceae family present in our flora flower from July–August to the autumn. Unfortunately, allergies do not take a vacation. Warm, dry July and August weather should limit pollen emissions. However, similarly to most plants in dry habitats, goosefoot are well adapted to such conditions and does not provide even a short reprieve to pollen allergic patients. However, goosefoot pollen does not have a very large allergenic significance; despite the long pollen season lasting about 3 months, pollen concentrations in the air are low and very rarely exceed the concentration of 30 grains/m3. This study compares Chenopodiaceae pollen seasons in Poland, Hungary and Slovakia in 2019. The investigations were carried out using the volumetric method (Hirst type pollen sampler). Seasonal pollen index was estimated as the sum of daily average pollen concentrations in the given season. The pollen season ranges from June to September, depending on the geographical latitude. In Hungary and Slovakia there are much longer pollen seasons than in Poland. Pollen of goosefoot family contains the panallergen profilins, which are responsible for cross-reactivity among pollen-sensitized patients. In 2019 the pollen season of goosefoot started first in Hungary, in Kaposvar on June 7th and in Slovakia, in Žilina, on June 8th; in Poland pollen season started much later, on June 14th in Szczecin and Opole. At the latest, a pollen season ended in Nitria (Slovakia) on October 16th; in Kecskemet (Hungary) on October 3rd. In Poland the season ended much earlier than in Hungary and Slovakia already on August 25th. The differences of pollen season durations are considerable, the number of days ranged from 72 to 128. The dynamics of the pollen seasons of goosefoot family show similarities within a given country and considerable differences between these countries. However, the differences of the highest airborne concentration between the countries are not considerable (25 pollen grains/m3 in Poland, 49 pollen grains/m3 in Hungary, and 30 pollen grains/m3 in Slovakia. The maximum values of seasonal pollen count in Polish cities occurred between July 26th and August 29th, in Hungarian cities between August 27th and 30th, and in Slovakian cities between August 7th and 28th. Pollen season was characterized by extremely different total annual pollen SPI, in Poland from 116 to 360; in Hungary and Slovakia within the limits 290 to 980. Droughts that occur more frequently during the summer facilitate the spread of species of the goosefoot family due to the possibility of these plants gaining new habitats.

Standardising pollen monitoring: quantifying confidence intervals for measurements of airborne pollen concentration

Measurement of atmospheric pollen concentrations is inexact, yet pollen concentrations are universally reported without estimate of accuracy. These imprecise values are nevertheless used for modelling, forecasting and public health decision-making. Estimation of the variability in reported pollen concentrations would help resolve associations between weather and pollen aerobiology as well as associations between pollen exposure and health. For any given daily atmospheric pollen level, a statistical variability would be expected in the set of possible measures. This variability is introduced and compounded by many factors including human error, classification error or instrument variability, as well as variability derived from strategies used to count and scale the airborne pollen sample. Here, we performed numeric simulations of pollen deposition and modelled the variability in contemporary pollen density estimates. Statistical distribution of the mean and variance of these simulated counts was compared with an existing pollen count dataset. Both simulations and actual pollen data showed that a significant range of atmospheric pollen concentrations could be inferred from the same daily pollen collection. The range of possible concentrations varied both with the atmospheric pollen density and with the portion of the daily pollen sample that is counted. Furthermore, pollen concentration data were shown to be non-normal and heteroscedastic, which has implications for a variety of tests (e.g. ANOVA), for regression analysis, and for pollen forecasting and forecast verification. These results reinforce the importance of counting as much of the collected pollen impaction surface as feasible to minimise the uncertainty in reported pollen levels. The outcomes of this study suggest that confidence intervals for daily pollen concentrations should be reported.

Is short-term exposure to grass pollen adversely associated with lung function and airway inflammation in the community?

The association between grass pollen exposure and early markers of asthma exacerbations such as lung function changes and increase in airway inflammation is limited. We investigated the associations between short-term grass pollen exposure and lung function and airway inflammation in a community-based sample, and whether any such associations were modified by current asthma, current hay fever, pollen sensitization, age, and other environmental factors. Cross-sectional and short-term analyses of data from the Melbourne Atopy Cohort Study (MACS) participants (n=936). Lung function was assessed using spirometry. Airway inflammation was assessed by fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and exhaled breath condensate pH and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Daily pollen counts were collected using a volumetric spore trap. The associations were examined by linear regression. Higher ambient levels of grass pollen 2days before (lag 2) were associated with lower mid-forced expiratory flow (FEF25%-75% ) and FEV1 /FVC ratio (Coef. [95% CI]=-119 [-226, -11]mL/s and -1.0 [-3.0, -0.03] %, respectively) and also 3days before (lag 3). Increased levels of grass pollen a day before (lag 1) were associated with increased FeNO (4.35 [-0.1, 8.7] ppb) and also at lag 2. Adverse associations between pollen and multiple outcomes were greater in adults with current asthma, hay fever, and pollen sensitization. Grass pollen exposure was associated with eosinophilic airway inflammation 1-2days after exposure and airway obstruction 2-3days after exposure. Adults and individuals with asthma, hay fever, and pollen sensitization may be at higher risk.

An improved pollen number counting method using a cell counter and mesh columns

BackgroundThe determination of pollen number is important in evolutionary, agricultural, and medical studies. Tree species of the Cupressaceae family cause serious pollinosis worldwide. Although Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) is the most important forestry species in Japan, it is also the biggest cause of pollinosis in the country. Japanese cedar trees have been selected for growth speed and superior morphological traits and then cloned. These clones may vary in their pollen production, but there has been little research on how many pollen grains are produced by a single male strobilus (flower). A recently reported method for counting pollen number with a cell counter was applicable to Arabidopsis species and wheat, but was not suitable for Japanese cedar because the strobilus does not open with heating (e.g. 60 °C, overnight).ResultsHere, we report an improved pollen counting method for Japanese cedar using a precise and rapid cell counter in combination with home-made mesh columns. The male strobilus was gently crushed using a pestle. Large and small debris were then removed using 100- and 20-μm mesh columns, respectively. We successfully detected pollen sizes and numbers that differed between two clones using this method.ConclusionsThis improved method is not only suitable for counting pollen from Japanese cedar, but could also be applied to other species of the Cupressaceae family with hard scale tissue covering the pollen. Moreover, this method could be applied to a broader range of plant species, such as wheat, because there is no need to wait for anthesis and debris can be removed efficiently.

Effects of human land use and temperature on community dynamics in European forests

Climate change and human land use are thought to play a dominant role in the dynamics of European central-latitude forests in the Holocene. A wide range of mathematical and statistical models have been used to study the effects of these variables on forest dynamics, including physiologically-based simulations and phenomenological community models. However, for statistical analysis of pollen count data, compositional data analysis is particularly well suited, because pollen counts give only relative information. We studied the effects of changes in human land use and temperature on European central-latitude forest dynamics at 7 sites over most of the last 10ka, using a stochastic model for compositional dynamics of pollen count data. Our approach has a natural ecological interpretation in terms of relative proportional population growth rates, and does not require information on pollen production, dispersal, or deposition. We showed that the relative proportional population growth rates of Fagus and Picea were positively affected by intensified human land use, and that those of Tilia and Ulmus were negatively affected. Also, the relative proportional population growth rate of Fagus was negatively affected by increases in temperature above about 18∘C. Overall, the effects of temperature on the rate of change of forest composition were more important than those of human land use. Although there were aspects of dynamics, such as short-term oscillations, that our model did not capture, our approach is broadly applicable and founded on ecological principles, and gave results consistent with current thinking.

Comparing methods for controlled capture and quantification of pollen in Cannabis sativa.

PremisePrecise pollen collection methods are necessary for crop breeding, but anemophilous pollen is notoriously difficult to capture and control. Here we compared a variety of methods for the controlled capture of cannabis pollen, intended to ease the process of cross‐fertilization for breeding this wind‐pollinated plant, and measured the utility of light spectroscopy for quantifying relative pollen yield.Methods and ResultsIn two independent trials, we compared a control method of pollen collection (hand collection) to either vacuum‐, water‐, or bag‐collection methods. We used visible light spectroscopy to quantify relative pollen yield, and validated this approach using microscopic pollen counts. We determined that pollen yield was highest when using hand collection or vacuum collection, but efficiency did not differ significantly among methods.ConclusionsTo maximize yield, pollen should be collected by hand or vacuum, but all collection methods were equally efficient in a relative sense because yield increased with collection time. We also found that light spectroscopy is an accurate and rapid method of quantifying pollen abundance (R 2 = 0.86) in a liquid suspension.

Atopic dermatitis severity during exposure to air pollutants and weather changes with an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) analysis.

Epidemiological studies have shown an association between global warming, air pollution, and allergic diseases. Several air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, toluene, nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ), and particulate matter, act as risk factors for the development or aggravation of atopic dermatitis (AD). We evaluated the impact of air pollutants and weather changes on AD patients. Sixty AD patients ≥5years of age (mean age: 23.5±12.5years), living in the Campania Region (Southern Italy), were followed for 18months. The primary outcome was the effect of atmospheric and climatic factors on signs and symptoms of AD, assessed using the SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis) index. We measured mean daily temperature (TOD), outdoor relative humidity (RH), diurnal temperature range (DTR), precipitation, particulate with aerodynamic diameter≤10μm (PM10 ), NO2 , tropospheric ozone (O3 ), and total pollen count (TPC). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the associations of AD signs and symptoms with these factors. An artificial neural network (ANN) analysis investigated the relationships between weather changes, environmental pollutants, and AD severity. The severity of AD symptoms was positively correlated with outdoor temperatures (TOD, DTR), RH, precipitation, PM10 , NO2 , O3 , and TPC. The ANN analysis also showed a good discrimination performance (75.46%) in predicting disease severity based on environmental pollution data, but weather-related factors were less predictive. The results of the present study provide evidence that weather changes and air pollutions have a significant impact on skin reactivity and symptoms in AD patients, increasing the severity of the dermatitis. The knowledge of the single variables proportion on AD severity symptoms is important to propose alerts for exacerbations in patients with AD of each age. This finding represents a good starting point for further future research in an area of increasingly growing interest.

Lyon: AFEDA airborne Ambrosia pollen counts, the longest series in the world?

Lyon: AFEDA airborne Ambrosia pollen counts, the longest series in the world?

Intralymphatic immunotherapy improves grass pollen allergic rhinoconjunctivitis: A 3-year randomized placebo-controlled trial

Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis is a global health problem. Different allergen immunotherapy regimes are marketed but have low adherence because they are expensive, complex, and time-consuming. New allergen immunotherapy forms are needed. In a 3-year follow-up double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial, we aimed to investigate the effect of intralymphatic allergen immunotherapy (ILIT). Patients with grass pollen rhinoconjunctivitis were treated with 3 ILIT injections and an ILIT booster 1 year later, 3 ILIT injections and a placebo booster, or 3 placebo injections and a placebo booster. Primary outcome was improvement in a combined symptom and medication score (cSMS). Anovel evaluation tool with a linear regression model of cSMS and grass pollen counts was developed. Secondary outcomes were changes in grass specific immunoglobulins and skin and nasal provocation tests to grass pollen. A total of 36 patients were included. Log10-transformed cSMS was reduced by 0.30 (95% CI, 0.11-0.49; P= .002), equaling 48.5% (95% CI, 24.5%-62%), in the entire 3-year follow-up period, significant only in the first follow-up season but not in the second and third seasons. The regression model showed a 37% (P< .001) reduction in cSMS. The booster injection 1 year later had no additional effect. Secondary, repeated measures of IgE and IgG4 to grass showed significant between-group difference and within-group change in the ILIT groups. No change in provocation test results was found. ILIT gives a substantial reduction in grass pollen allergy symptoms and use of rescue medication, significant in the first season after treatment. Abooster injection had no additional effect.

Analysis of Selected Antioxidant and Anti-nutrient Content and Palynological Evaluation of Honey Samples from Southern Guinea Savanna Vegetation of Nigeria

Aims: To investigate the presence of selected antioxidant and anti-nutrient and pollen profile of four honey samples from the southern guinea savanna vegetation of Nigeria.&#x0D; Study Design: Purposive sampling method was used in selecting the study areas for the honey samples&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: The study was done in the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, between June to October, 2019.&#x0D; Methodology: The analyzed antioxidants (flavonoids, total phenols, vitamin C and alkaloids) and anti-nutrient (phytate and oxalate) were subjected to standard chemical treatment in four replicates. The stock samples of the honeys were thoroughly shaken and 10g collected from each sample for pollen analysis. Each sample was dissolved in acidified warm (40°C) water, centrifuged at 2000 rpm and the residues collected. Subsequently, they passed through standard acetolysis treatment. The polliniferous deposits were put in specimen bottles containing glycerol-alcohol. Routine pollen counts and identification were done at x400 magnifications. The pollen counts were presented as percentage values, while results obtained from the chemical analyses were subjected to analysis of variance and mean separation test using Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test at P=.05.&#x0D; Results: All the selected antioxidants (flavonoids, total phenols, vitamin C and alkaloids) and anti-nutrients (phytate and oxalate) analyzed were detected in variable quantities in the samples. The honeys were acidic having pH range within acceptable internationally standard. Eighty-two pollen types (39 families) were recorded and composed of nectariferous (90.2%) and non-nectariferous (9.8%) plants. All the honey samples were polyfloral and the most common pollen types occurring across the samples were Elaeis guineensis, Asteraceae and Phyllanthus muellerianus. &#x0D; Conclusion: The honey samples were acidic and contained the selected antioxidants and anti-nutrients parameters in variable quantities. The honey samples were polyfloral with a high number of nectariferous and few non-nectariferous honey plants.

Mixture analyses of air-sampled pollen extracts can accurately differentiate pollen taxa

The daily pollen forecast provides crucial information for allergic patients to avoid exposure to specific pollen. Pollen counts are typically measured with air samplers and analyzed with microscopy by trained experts. In contrast, this study evaluated the effectiveness of identifying the component pollens using the metabolites extracted from an air-sampled pollen mixture. Ambient air-sampled pollen from Munich in 2016 and 2017 was visually identified from reference pollens and extracts were prepared. The extracts were lyophilized, rehydrated in optimal NMR buffers, and filtered to remove large proteins. NMR spectra were analyzed for pollen associated metabolites. Regression and decision-tree based algorithms using the concentration of metabolites calculated from the NMR spectra outperformed algorithms using the NMR spectra themselves as input data for pollen identification. Categorical prediction algorithms trained for low, medium, high, and very high pollen count groups had accuracies of 74% for the tree, 82% for the grass, and 93% for the weed pollen count. Deep learning models using convolutional neural networks performed better than regression models using NMR spectral input, and were the overall best method in terms of relative error and classification accuracy (86% for tree, 89% for grass, and 93% for weed pollen count). This study demonstrates that NMR spectra of air-sampled pollen extracts can be used in an automated fashion to provide taxa and type-specific measures of the daily pollen count.

A demonstration project of Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases: Prediction of interactions between air pollution and allergen exposure-the Mobile Airways Sentinel NetworK-Impact of air POLLution on Asthma and Rhinitis approach.

This review analyzes the state and recent progress in the field of information support for pollen allergy sufferers. For decades, information available for the patients and allergologists consisted of pollen counts, which are vital but insufficient. New technology paves the way to substantial increase in amount and diversity of the data. This paper reviews old and newly suggested methods to predict pollen and air pollutant concentrations in the air and proposes an allergy risk concept, which combines the pollen and pollution information and transforms it into a qualitative risk index. This new index is available in an app (Mobile Airways Sentinel NetworK-air) that was developed in the frame of the European Union grant Impact of Air POLLution on sleep, Asthma and Rhinitis (a project of European Institute of Innovation and Technology-Health). On-going transformation of the pollen allergy information support is based on new technological solutions for pollen and air quality monitoring and predictions. The new information-technology and artificial-intelligence-based solutions help to convert this information into easy-to-use services for both medical practitioners and allergy sufferers.

Using Satellites to Track Indicators of Global Air Pollution and Climate Change Impacts: Lessons Learned From a NASA-Supported Science-Stakeholder Collaborative.

The 2018 NASA Health and Air Quality Applied Science Team (HAQAST) “Indicators” Tiger Team collaboration between NASA‐supported scientists and civil society stakeholders aimed to develop satellite‐derived global air pollution and climate indicators. This Commentary shares our experience and lessons learned. Together, the team developed methods to track wildfires, dust storms, pollen counts, urban green space, nitrogen dioxide concentrations and asthma burdens, tropospheric ozone concentrations, and urban particulate matter mortality. Participatory knowledge production can lead to more actionable information but requires time, flexibility, and continuous engagement. Ground measurements are still needed for ground truthing, and sustained collaboration over time remains a challenge.

Respiratory illness, hospital visits, and health costs: Is it air pollution or pollen?

BackgroundBoth air pollution and airborne pollen can cause respiratory health problems. Since both are often jointly present in ambient air, it is important to control for one while estimating the effect of the other when considering pollution-abating policies. To date only a limited number of studies have considered the health effects of both irritants jointly for a general population, and for a sufficiently long time period to allow for variation in seasonal concentrations of both components. The primary goal of this study is to determine the causal impact of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on hospital visits and related treatment costs, while controlling for potentially confounding pollen effects. Our study area is the metropolitan hub of Reno/Sparks in Northern Nevada. MethodsTaking advantage of a rare sample of daily pollen counts over a prolonged period of time (2009–2015), we model the effects of PM2.5 and pollen on respiratory-related hospital admissions for the population at large, plus specific age groups. Pollen data are provided by a local allergy clinic. Data on PM2.5 and other air pollutants are obtained from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's air quality data web site. We collect daily meteorological data from the National Centers for Environmental Information's data repository. Data on hospital admissions are given by the Nevada Center for Surveys, Evaluations, and Statistics. Our econometric approach centers on a fully robust count data (Poisson) model, estimated via Quasi-Maximum Likelihood. ResultsWe find that for our sample PM2.5 effects are largely robust to the inclusion of both pollen counts and temporal indicators. In contrast, pollen effects vanish when time fixed effects are added, pointing at their correlation with unobserved temporal confounders. At the same time, model fit improves with the inclusion of temporal indicators. Based on our preferred specification, we find a significant PM2.5 effect of approximately 0.5% additional hospital visits per day due to a one μg/m3 increase in PM2.5. This translates into expected augmented treatment costs of $2700 per day for the same unit-change in PM2.5. These figures can mount quickly when more pronounced and/or longer episodes of particulate matter pollution are considered, perhaps due to wildfire smoke. For instance, the expected increase in patients and costs due to a month-long 10-unit-jump of PM2.5 over the long-run annual average would amount to an extra 70 patients and approximately $680,000 in additional treatment costs.

"Whole" vs. "fragmented" approach to EAACI pollen season definitions: A multicenter study in six Southern European cities.

The adequate definition of pollen seasons is essential to facilitate a correct diagnosis, treatment choice, and outcome assessment in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. A position paper by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) proposed season definitions for Northern and Middle Europe. To test the pollen season definitions proposed by EAACI in six Mediterranean cities for seven pollen taxa. As part of the @IT.2020 multi-center study, pollen counts for Poaceae, Oleaceae, Fagales, Cupressaceae, Urticaceae (Parietaria spp.), and Compositae (Ambrosia spp., Artemisia spp.) were collected from January 1 to December 31, 2018. Based on these data, pollen seasons were identified according to EAACI criteria. A unified monitoring period for patients in AIT trials was created and assessed for feasibility. The analysis revealed a great heterogeneity between the different locations in terms of pattern and length of the examined pollen seasons. Further, we found a fragmentation of pollen seasons in several segments (max. 8) separated by periods of low pollen counts (intercurrent periods). Potential monitoring periods included often many recording days with low pollen exposure (max. 341days). The Mediterranean climate leads to challenging pollen exposure times. Monitoring periods for AIT trials based on existing definitions may include many intermittent days with low pollen concentrations. Therefore, it is necessary to find an adapted pollen season definition as individual solution for each pollen and geographical area.

Are Fungal Spores Relevant Outdoor Allergens?

Alternaria alternata spores are important allergens causing "hayfever". Outdoor fungal exposure is primarily associated with increased asthma symptoms and increased risk of asthma exacerbations. In our outpatient-clinic, we investigated patients who presented with symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis and respiratory symptoms in the summertime. We found a sensitisation to Alternaria alternata in about 6 % of the investigated patients. Especially in children and teenagers, the sensitisation is clinically important. The spores of Alternaria alternata are responsible for the development and persistence of nonspecific airway hyperresponsiveness and in a group of patients also for a difficult-to-treat asthma in the summer. We should always bear in mind that prolonged symptoms (after end of June) in grass pollen allergic patients might be caused by additional sensitisation to Alternaria alternata spores or mugwort pollen. In our patients, we were able to show a sensitisation to Alternaria alternata in grass pollen allergic patients rather frequently. In the summertime, high counts of Alternaria spores and pollen often appear simultaneously. Our findings show a considerable effect of Alternaria sensitisation on the asthma morbidity and exacerbations. In this article we refer to the necessity of keeping a patient diary of allergic symptoms and the importance of information from regional pollen traps about the counts of pollen and Alternaria spores. Only then we will be able to differentiate, which allergen is responsible for the severe "hay fever", especially in patients with severe asthma episodes. Before the start of a specific immunotherapy with Alternaria alternata it is recommended to perform a mucosal provocation test, to prove the clinical significance of the sensitisation. It has been shown that also in Germany, there are high counts of Alternaria spores in the summer. The results of the pollen and alternaria count in the year 2009, measured in the regional pollen trap (Treuenbrietzen), are shown in Abb. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. We have also found broken Alternaria spores. They are associated with increased asthma exacerbations and appear often during thunderstorms and harvesting. An allergen-specific immunotherapy with Alternaria alternata is a safe treatment and it is effective in improving respiratory function. The safety and efficacy is comparable to the one found in the allergen-specific immunotherapy with pollen.

William Frankland: the “grandfather of allergy”

Photo credit: Imperial College London William Frankland (“Bill”), the British clinical allergist who transformed global understanding of allergies, has died aged 108. He developed the pollen count in order to...

Alder pollen season in selected cities of Poland in 2020

This paper presents the course of alder pollination season in Poland in 2020. The measurements were performed in Bydgoszcz, Bialystok, Lublin, Olsztyn, Opole, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Sosnowiec, Szczecin, Warsaw, Wroclaw and Zielona Gora. Volumetric method with the use of Volumetric Spore Trap (Burkard, Lanzoni) was implemented. Pollen season was defined as the period in which 95% of the annual total catch occurred. The alder pollen season in 2020 started about 10–30 days earlier compared to 2017–2019. The pollen season started first in Szczecin, Opole and Zielona Gora (in the second half of January). In the other cities alder pollen season started in first half of February. The highest daily pollen count was recorded in Lublin (1211 P/m3). In other cities the maximum concentrations ranged from 160 P/m3 in Sosnowiec to 465 P/m3 in Piotrkow Trybunalski. The highest alder pollen concentrations were detected in the first decade of March (March 1st–3rd). Only in Zielona Gora, Wroclaw, Opole and Sosnowiec the maximum concentration was recorded in the third decade of February. The annual pollen sum of Alnus in 2020 was even 5–10 times lower than in years 2019.