Pollen Levels Research Articles

High Levels of Allergenic Tree Pollen in Southern New Zealand

High Levels of Allergenic Tree Pollen in Southern New Zealand

A prospective cohort study on ambient air pollution and respiratory morbidities including childhood asthma in adolescents from the western Cape Province: study protocol

BackgroundThere is evidence from existing literature that ambient air pollutant exposure in early childhood likely plays an important role in asthma exacerbation and other respiratory symptoms, with greater effect among asthmatic children. However, there is inconclusive evidence on the role of ambient air pollutant exposures in relation to increasing asthma prevalence as well as asthma induction in children. At the population level, little is known about the potential synergistic effects between pollen allergens and air pollutants since this type of association poses challenges in uncontrolled real life settings. In particular, data from sub-Sahara Africa is scarce and virtually absent among populations residing in informal residential settlements.Methods/designA prospective cohort study of 600 school children residing in four informal settlement areas with varying potential ambient air pollutant exposure levels in the Western Cape in South Africa is carried-out. The study has two follow-up periods of at least six-months apart including an embedded panel study in summer and winter. The exposure assessment component models temporal and spatial variability of air quality in the four study areas over the study duration using land-use regression modelling (LUR). Additionally, daily pollen levels (mould spores, tree, grass and weed pollen) in the study areas are recorded. In the panel study asthma symptoms and serial peak flow measurements is recorded three times daily to determine short-term serial airway changes in relation to varying ambient air quality and pollen over 10-days during winter and summer. The health outcome component of the cohort study include; the presence of asthma using a standardised ISAAC questionnaire, spirometry, fractional exhaled nitric-oxide (FeNO) and the presence of atopy (Phadiatop).DiscussionThis research applies state of the art exposure assessment approaches to characterize the effects of ambient air pollutants on childhood respiratory health, with a specific focus on asthma and markers of airway inflammation (FeNO) in South African informal settlement areas by considering also pollen counts and meteorological factors. The study will generate crucial data on air pollution and asthma in low income settings in sub-Sahara Africa that is lacking in the international literature.

Low levels of pollen and seed flow in a riparian forest fragment of the dioecious tropical tree Genipa Americana L

Theintense process of deforestation in tropical regions has resulted in the fragmentation of most native forests The effects of fragmentation on genetic diversity and effective population size of tree species depends in large part on the level of gene flow among remnant populations The main objective of this study was to use microsatellite loci to investigate the impact of spatial isolation caused by forest fragmentation on pollen and seed flow in a population of the tropical tree nbsp Genipaamericana We also investigate the genetic diversity inbreeding and spatial genetic structure SGS in adults regenerants and open pollinated seeds In the studied fragment all adult trees were mapped sexed and sampled We also mapped and sampled regenerants and collected open pollinated seeds during two reproductive events Using parentage analysis we detected a minimum immigration of pollen at and seeds at and pollen and seeds were dispersed in a pattern of isolation by distance We found variation in female and male fertility with thelargest females mothering more regenerants and the largest males fathering more seeds We found significant SGS for adults and regenerants the SGS in adults resulted in regenerants and seeds produced through mating among relatives which explains the inbreeding detected in all samples Our resultsindicate genetic connectivity between thefragmentand otherpopulations possiblydue to insect pollinationandseed dispersalvectors barochory hydrochory and zoochory by mammals We discuss our results in terms of nbsp in nbsp and nbsp ex situ nbsp conservation

ROS-induced oxidative stress is closely related to pollen deterioration following cryopreservation

Oxidative stress induced by excessive accumulation of reactive oxidative species (ROS) during cryopreservation is thought to be one factor contributing to cryodamage of biological materials. To explore the role of oxidative stress in the cryopreservation of plant pollen, germination, ROS, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of pollen from 20 ornamental plant species were compared before and after cryopreservation. The results showed that the germinability of cryopreserved pollen from 13 out of the 20 species was not significantly different from that of fresh pollen (group 1), only one increased significantly, while the other six declined significantly (group 2). The MDA content in cryopreserved pollen from nine species in group 1 showed no significant difference from that of fresh pollen, while four species in group 2 rose significantly. This suggested that pollen viability and MDA levels were negatively correlated. ROS generation in cryopreserved pollen from nine species in group 1 was unchanged compared to fresh pollen, while five species in group 2 increased significantly. This suggested that pollen viability was negatively correlated with ROS generation. Additionally, both ROS and MDA levels in pollen from four species in group 2 increased significantly. In conclusion, pollen from most species possesses some cryostorage tolerance, but some species are severely damaged by cryostorage. Oxidative stress induced by the cryostorage in liquid nitrogen (LN) may be a key factor for the decreased viability in pollen following cryopreservation.

Cryopreservation of Citrus anthers in the National Crop Genebank of China

Genebank conservation of pollen is valuable because it makes genetic resources immediately available for use in breeding programs. In the case of Citrus species, conserved anthers or pollen can be easily transported and used to develop new varieties with pathogen resistance and desirable quality and yield traits. The aim of this study was to develop and improve air-desiccation cryopreservation protocols for Citrus cavaleriei and Citrus maxima anthers in genebanks. In the current study, warming, rehydration, and in vitro germination conditions were optimized to achieve high levels of in vitro germination in Citrus pollen for ten cultivars after liquid nitrogen (LN) exposure. The optimal warming, rehydration, and in vitro germination medium formulations affected the germination levels after pollen cryopreservation, with species- and cultivar-dependent effects. The Citrus anthers were dehydrated to the moisture content of 5–14% before LN exposure and warmed at 25 (cryopreserved Citrus anthers with a moisture content of lower than 10%) or 37°C (a moisture content of 10% or higher), then rehydrated, and cultured on medium with 150-g L−1 sucrose, 0.1-g L−1 boric acid, 1.0-g L−1 calcium nitrate, 0.1-g L−1 potassium nitrate, 0.3-g L−1 magnesium sulfate, and 10-g L−1 agar. After 2 yr of storage, in vitro germination levels of Citrus pollen after cryopreservation were significantly higher (> 22% for all ten cultivars) than those of samples that were stored at 4°C (0%). In vitro germination levels of pollen from six of ten cultivars after cryopreservation remained relatively high after 2 yr of storage (38–93%). The highest viability of 93% was obtained for C. cavaleriei ‘2–3’. The methods identified in the current study could be used to cryopreserve C. cavaleriei and C. maxima anthers.

Uncovering a New Moral Dilemma of Economic Optimization in Biotechnological Processing.

The trend of emerging biorefineries is to process the harvest as efficiently as possible and without any waste. From the most valuable phytomass, refined medicines, enzymes, dyes and other special reactants are created. Functional foods, food ingredients, oils, alcohol, solvents, plastics, fillers and a wide variety of other chemical products follow. After being treated with nutrient recovery techniques (for fertilizer production), biofuels or soil improvers are produced from the leftovers. Economic optimization algorithms have confirmed that such complex biorefineries can be financially viable only when a high degree of feedstock concentration is included. Because the plant material is extremely voluminous before processing, the farming intensity of special plants increases in the nearest vicinity of agglomerations where the biorefineries are built for logistical reasons. Interdisciplinary analyses revealed that these optimization measures lead to significantly increased pollen levels in neighbouring urban areas and subsequently an increased risk of allergies, respectively costs to the national health system. A new moral dilemma between the shareholder's profit and public interest was uncovered and subjected to disputation.

Steps Towards Clarifying the Clinical Relevance of Minor Olive Allergens in Areas With Extremely High Levels of Olive Pollen.

Steps Towards Clarifying the Clinical Relevance of Minor Olive Allergens in Areas With Extremely High Levels of Olive Pollen.

The relationship between birch pollen, air pollution and weather types and their effect on antihistamine purchase in two Swedish cities

Exposure to elevated air pollution levels can aggravate pollen allergy symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between airborne birch (Betula) pollen, urban air pollutants NO2, O3 and PM10 and their effects on antihistamine demand in Gothenburg and Malmö, Sweden, 2006–2012. Further, the influence of large-scale weather pattern on pollen-/pollution-related risk, using Lamb weather types (LWTs), was analysed. Daily LWTs were obtained by comparing the atmospheric pressure over a 16-point grid system over southern Sweden (scale ~3000 km). They include two non-directional types, cyclonic (C) and anticyclonic (A) and eight directional types depending on the wind direction (N, NE, E…). Birch pollen levels were exceptionally high under LWTs E and SE in both cities. Furthermore, LWTs with dry and moderately calm meteorological character (A, NE, E, SE) were associated with strongly elevated air pollution (NO2 and PM10) in Gothenburg. For most weather situations in both cities, simultaneously high birch pollen together with high air pollution had larger over-the-counter (OTC) sales of antihistamines than situations with high birch pollen alone. LWTs NE, E, SE and S had the highest OTC sales in both cities. In Gothenburg, the city with a higher load of both birch pollen and air pollution, the higher OTC sales were especially obvious and indicate an increased effect on allergic symptoms from air pollution. Furthermore, Gothenburg LWTs A, NE, E and SE were associated with high pollen and air pollution levels and thus classified as high-risk weather types. In Malmö, corresponding high-risk LWTs were NE, E, SE and S. Furthermore, occurrence of high pollen and air pollutants as well as OTC sales correlated strongly with vapour pressure deficit and temperature in Gothenburg (much less so in Malmö). This provides evidence that the combination of meteorological properties associated with LWTs can explain high levels of birch pollen and air pollution. Our study shows that LWTs represent a useful tool for integrated daily air quality forecasting/warning.

Impacts of oak pollen on allergic asthma in the USA and potential effect of future climate change: a modelling analysis

BackgroundFuture climate change is expected to lengthen and intensify pollen seasons in the USA, potentially increasing incidence of allergic asthma. We examined the health consequences of present day oak pollen levels and climate-induced changes in oak pollen on asthma emergency department visits in the USA. MethodsWe estimated oak pollen season length for moderate (RCP4.5) and severe climate change scenarios (RCP8.5) from 2010 through to 2090 using five climate models and published relationships between temperature, precipitation, and pollen season length. We calculated asthma emergency department visit counts associated with 1994–2010 average oak pollen concentrations and with simulated future oak pollen season length changes using the Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program (BenMAP-CE), driven by epidemiologically derived concentration-response relationships. FindingsOak pollen was associated with an estimated 7400, 8800, and 5000 asthma emergency department visits in the northeast, southeast, and midwest USA, respectively, in 2010, with substantial economic damages. Most of these visits (14 600) occurred among children age younger than 18 years. Severe climate change could increase oak pollen season length and associated asthma emergency departments visits in all regions examined in 2030, 2050, 2070, and 2090, resulting in millions of dollars in health-care costs in these US regions through to 2090. Moderate versus severe climate change could mitigate much of the additional burden of oak pollen-related asthma emergency department visits. InterpretationAlthough these results were restricted to one pollen type and one health outcome, these results suggest that aeroallergens pose a substantial US public health burden, that climate change could increase US allergic disease incidence, and that mitigating climate change might have benefits from avoided pollen-related health effects. However, wide confidence intervals and several key methodological limitations constrain the strength of these conclusions. As more studies quantify the effects of climate on pollen and pollen on health, this methodology can be applied to additional pollen types and health outcomes. FundingUS Environmental Protection Agency.

Airborne pollen and suicide mortality in Tokyo, 2001–2011

Prior research has indicated that pollen might be linked to suicide mortality although the few studies that have been undertaken to date have produced conflicting findings and been limited to Western settings. This study examined the association between the level of airborne pollen and suicide mortality in Tokyo, Japan in the period from 2001 to 2011. The daily number of suicide deaths was obtained from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, with pollen data being obtained from the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health. A time-stratified case-crossover study was performed to examine the association between different levels of pollen concentration and suicide mortality. During the study period there were 5185 male and 2332 female suicides in the pollen season (February to April). For men there was no association between airborne pollen and suicide mortality. For women, compared to when there was no airborne pollen, the same-day (lag 0) pollen level of 30 to <100 grains per cm2 was associated with an approximately 50% increase in the odds for suicide (e.g. 30 to <50 grains per cm2: odds ratio 1.574, 95% confidence interval 1.076–2.303, p=0.020). The estimates remained fairly stable after adjusting for air pollutants and after varying the cut-points that defined the pollen levels. Our results indicate that pollen is associated with female suicide mortality in Tokyo.

Mineral element and heavy metal (cadmium, lead and arsenic) levels of bee pollen in Turkey

In this study, mineral element and heavy metal levels in bee pollen produced in various regions of Turkey (20 samples) and imported bee pollen (4 samples), were determined using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) device. Mineral and heavy metal levels of bee pollens produced in Turkey were determined to be within the following ranges (minimum-maximum, µg/gpollen); Cr (chromium): 0.124-1.595, Cu (copper): 3.728-14.994, Fe (iron): 28.603-725.360, Mg (magnesium): 271.107-1278.340, Mn (manganese): 8.151-201.036, Se (selenium): 0.593-5.085, Zn (zinc): 14.832-39.079, B (boron): 0.592-61.33, Ni (nickel): 0.002-1.761, Si (silicon): 0.082-10.500, K (potassium): 992.107-2894.154, Ca (calcium): 491.853-1472.102, P (phosphorus): 795.899-5246.992 and Cd (cadmium): 0.006-0.181, Pb (lead): 0.000-0.479, As (arsenic): 0.006-1.035. As a result of this study, it can be concluded that bee pollens produced in Turkey may be a good source of mineral regarding the trace elements Se, Mn, Fe, Cr and Cu.

The occurrence of Ambrosia pollen in the atmosphere of Northwest Turkey: investigation of possible source regions.

Ambrosia pollen was first reported as an important allergen in North America at the end of the nineteenth century, and many European countries have recently reported its increasing significance for pollen allergy. The aims of this study were to determine whether the highly allergenic Ambrosia pollen recorded during the studied period could be the result of long-distance transport (LDT) and to identify the potential sources of Ambrosia pollen grains. The study investigates Ambrosia pollen episodes during the peak term of six yearly periods between 2010 and 2015 by examining source regions in Ambrosia pollen in Bursa, Turkey. A volumetric trap was used for collecting the pollen samples, and the back-trajectory model was used to identify a potential source of atmospheric Ambrosia pollen. The days when pollen levels exceeded 30Pm-3 were computed, and clusters were shown on the figures. The study indicates that the Ambrosia pollen grains recorded during the episode in Bursa were not produced by local sources but transported long distances from potential source regions around the Azov Sea in Russia and Ukraine, Black Sea region of Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria. Note that atmospheric concentrations of Ambrosia pollen exceeded the clinical threshold during 28days during the investigation period. Taking into consideration the high allergenicity of Ambrosia pollen, the present findings suggest that the number of ragweed-sensitized individuals might increase in the near future in the region.

Tree Pollen Levels during Two “Very Strong” El Niño Events

We anticipated that the very strong el Niño of 2016 would be a factor in boosting local tree pollen levels as recorded during el Niño1998. Daily 24 hour Burkard spore trap samples from mid-March to mid-June of 1998 to 2016 were analyzed for tree pollen content. Meteorological factors were examined to explain the large difference between the 1998 & 2016 tree pollen counts. (1) Total tree pollen levels in 1998 were the highest recorded in SW Ontario, while the 2016 levels were the lowest. (2) We did not find a correlation between weather factors (rainfall & growing degree days) and the two “very strong” El Niño events. (3) Local tree pollen levels have dropped substantially after a peak in 2010. El Niño is a recurring global climatic phenomenon resulting from changes in oceanic surface temperatures that affect weather. Very strong El Niño events occur approximately every 15-20 years. In 1998, local pollen production was elevated for almost all the deciduous trees with very high levels of Juniper/Cedar. The literature indicates that annual pollen production is primed by precipitation in the previous year and the season is initiated by temperature (growing degree days). We found such relationships inconsistent and did not explain the two El Niño “seasons” or the recent drop-off in recorded tree pollen production.

Plant macrofossil, pollen and invertebrate analysis of a mid-14th century cesspit from medieval Riga, Latvia (the eastern Baltic): Taphonomy and indicators of human diet

The paper presents the results of an integrated environmental analysis on the fill of an exceptionally well-preserved mid-14th century cesspit from the historic centre of Riga (Latvia, eastern Baltic). Palynological, plant macrofossils and invertebrate analysis yielded important new information about the use of plants by the indigenous community living within the medieval city, including their socio-economic status. The taphonomy of the botanical and invertebrate data is considered to largely reflect the input of undigested food waste and human faecal material with a subordinate component derived through the input of cereal waste-products. The results show that the diet of the indigenous community was based largely on cereal products, most probably bread and porridge, supplemented by a limited range of locally cultivated and/or collected vegetables and spices. Documentary sources emphasise that bee-keeping was an important element of the local economy of Riga. Elevated levels of lime pollen in the cesspit samples are taken as possible evidence for the consumption of honey, most likely of a local origin. This study also serves to demonstrate the significant quantity of information that can be gleaned from a relatively small volume of material.

Volatile profile in the accurate labelling of monofloral honey. The case of lavender and thyme honey.

The proliferation of hybrid plant varieties without pollen, such as lavender, has complicated the classification of specific types of honey. This study evaluated the correlation between the proclaimed type of monofloral honey (lavender or thyme) as appears on the label with the actual percentage of pollen. In addition, physicochemical parameters, colour, olfacto-gustatory profile, and volatile compounds were tested. All of the samples labelled as lavender were wrongly classified according to the usual commercial criteria (minimum 10% of pollen Lavandula spp.). In the case of lavender honey, there was significant agreement between commercial labelling and classification through organoleptic perception (81.8%), and above all between the commercial labelling and the volatile compounds (90.9%). For thyme honey, agreement for both parameters was 90.0%. These results offer compelling evidence that the volatile compounds are useful for the classification of lavender honey with low levels of pollen since this technique agrees well with the organoleptic analysis.

Correlation Between Aeroallergen Levels and New Diagnosis of Eosinophilic Esophagitis in New York City.

The relation between food allergies and eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is well established. Aeroallergens may also contribute to the development of EoE; however, there are limited data to support or refute this hypothesis. The objectives of this pilot study were to determine whether there is a seasonal variation in the onset of symptoms and/or diagnosis of EoE and whether these variations correlate with a specific pollen concentration within New York City. We performed a retrospective chart review to identify all pediatric patients at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center diagnosed with EoE between 2002 and 2012. Sixty-six patients were identified and 28 were excluded. Cases were classified by both date of initial symptoms and date of histologic diagnosis. Pollen counts from a certified New York City counting station and the percentage of EoE cases were collated monthly and seasonally and compared. There was a seasonal variation in onset of symptoms and diagnosis of EoE, with the highest number of patients reporting onset of symptoms of EoE in July to September, and those being diagnosed with EoE in October to December. There was a seasonal correlation between peak levels of grass pollen and peak onset of EoE symptoms, which were both highest in July to September. The diagnosis of EoE peaked one season later. The study findings suggest that there is a correlation between specific aeroallergens and both the onset of symptoms and time of diagnosis of patients with EoE.

SEMEN PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS, BLOOD PARAMETERS AND SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL ESTIMATES OF RABBIT BUCKS ADMINISTERED WITH BEE POLLEN UNDER UPPER EGYPT CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of orally administration of bee pollen (BP) levels at 500 and 1000mg/buck as capsules form on semen physical characteristics as well as some hematological and physiological traits of rabbit bucks exposed to high temperature under Upper Egypt climatic conditions. A total of 30 rabbit bucks (15 V-line & 15 Moshtohor); 52 weeks old, were equally classified into three experimental groups. Bucks in the 1st group (control) were fed on a commercial ration, while those in the 2nd and 3rd groups were fed on the basal diet and orally administered daily with 500 and 1000mg BP/buck, respectively during the experiment, which lasted 56 days. The obtained findings revealed that the means of white blood cells (WBCs), hemoglobin (Hg), Hematocrit (HCT), MCV (%), total protein (TP) of Moshtohor rabbit bucks were significantly increased, while the total feed intake (TFI) and glucose level were significantly decreased than those of the V-line rabbit bucks. The means of live sperm (%), mass motility (%), conc./ml (106), conc./ej (106) and testosterone (ng/ml)in Moshtohor bucks increased significantly (P<0.01) by about 4.3, 6.0, 24.0, 28.6 and 16.8%, while reaction time (RT) was significantlydecreased by about 20.2% than those of V-line bucks. The bucks treated with both of 500 and 1000mg BP /rabbit had significantly (P<0.01) increased means of final body weight (FBW), red blood cells (RBCs), WBCs, Hg, HCT, MCV, TP and Alb, glucose and TAC than the corresponding means of the control group. While, the treatment with BP significantly (P<0.05) reduced TFI and serumcholestrol. The means of ejaculate volume, live sperms, mass motility, conc./ml and conc./Ej.(106)for bucks treated with BP exceeded significantly (P<0.01), while the reaction time and sperm abnormalities were significantly (P<0.01) decreased as compared with the corresponding figures in the control group. Similarly, the means of glutathione content (GSH) and testosterone hormone concentration were significantly increased in the treated bucks, while the mean malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly decreased as compared with the control group. Conclusively, from the obtained results it could be concluded that treating rabbit bucks raised under high temperature with both of 500 and 1000mg/ buck significantly improved the semen characteristics, blood parameters, antioxidant activities, and testosterone hormone.

Levels and determinants of tree pollen in New York City.

Exposure to allergenic tree pollen is a risk factor for multiple allergic disease outcomes. Little is known about how tree pollen levels vary within cities and whether such variation affects the development or exacerbation of allergic disease. Accordingly, we collected integrated pollen samples at uniform height at 45 sites across New York City during the 2013 pollen season. We used these monitoring results in combination with adjacent land use data to develop a land use regression model for tree pollen. We evaluated four types of land use variables for inclusion in the model: tree canopy, distributed building height (a measure of building volume density), elevation, and distance to water. When included alone in the model, percent tree canopy cover within a 0.5 km radial buffer explained 39% of the variance in tree pollen (1.9% increase in tree pollen per one-percentage point increase in tree canopy cover, P<0.0001). The inclusion of additional variables did not improve model fit. We conclude that intra-urban variation in tree canopy is an important driver of tree pollen exposure. Land use regression models can be used to incorporate spatial variation in tree pollen exposure in studies of allergic disease outcomes.

Something in the air? Air quality and children's educational outcomes

Poor air quality has been shown to harm the health and development of children. Research on these relationships has focused almost exclusively on the effects of human-made pollutants, and has not fully distinguished between contemporaneous and long-run effects. This paper contributes on both of these fronts. Merging data on ambient levels of human-made pollutants and plant pollen with detailed panel data of children beginning kindergarten in 2010, I study the relationship between poor air quality on achievement in early grades. I also provide tentative estimates of the effects of air quality in the first years of life on school-readiness. I find that students score between 1 to 2 percent lower on math and reading scores on days with high levels of pollen or fine airborne particulate matter, and that asthmatic students score about 10 percent lower on days with high levels of ozone. I find suggestive evidence that poor air quality during early childhood negatively affects school readiness.

Distribution of ornamental urban trees and their influence on airborne pollen in the SW of Iberian Peninsula

Ornamental trees in urban environment are a relevant cause of illness due to allergenic pollen airborne dispersed. The work presented here analyses the importance of ornamental tree distribution and investigates airborne pollen records using volumetric spore traps. Three localities in the southwest of Spain were studied: Don Benito (DB), Plasencia (PL), and Zafra (ZA), in the Extremadura region. Volumetric Hirst type spore traps recorded pollen levels continuously for three years. Ornamental street trees in the study area were identified, counted and mapped. Airborne pollen records were found to be related to the number of trees, the proximity of the trees to traps, the different pollination systems and wind direction. A total of 17635 trees, from all localities were counted, belonging to 67 species, 58% anemophilous, 22% entomophilous, and 20% both pollination systems. Five species represented more than 50% of the total number of ornamental trees: Platanus hispanica, Olea europaea, Ulmus minor, Acer negundo and Melia azedarach. The average total pollen concentration in gm−3 was 102 (DB), 93 (PL), and 99 (ZA)… Omitting the data for Quercus pollen, a statistically significant correlation between the number of trees at 0.5km around the spore traps and the types of pollen recorded was found. Some measures to decrease the amount of potential allergenic airborne pollen in urban environments were identified, such as reducing trees with anemophilic pollination systems, eliminating male trees and employing suitable pruning practices. In any case, the closer the source of ornamental pollen, the greater the allergenic risks.