Assessing allergenicity of urban parks: a case study from Aydin, Turkey
AbstractAllergenic pollens produced by some tree species in urban parks, a part of the urban flora, cause pollinosis, allergic rhinitis, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and asthma. The allergenic pollen levels of four urban parks in Aydin (Turkey) were determined using the Index of Urban Green Zones Allergenicity (IUGZA). The potential allergenicity value (PAV) of each species and the crown volume of each individual belonging to the species were used in the index calculation. According to their PAV values, tree species were classified as nil (0), low (1 –6), moderate (8–12), high (16–24), and very high (27–36) allerg...
Source: Aerobiologia - May 11, 2022 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
The duration and severity of the allergenic pollen season in Istanbul, and the role of meteorological factors
We present a retrospective analysis of the duration and severity of the allergenic pollen season and the role of meteorological factors in Istanbul, Turkey. Aerobiological sampling from January 2013 to June 2016, pollen identification and counting followed current standard methodology. Pollen seasons were defined according to 95% of the Annual Pollen Integral (APIn) and the season start date was compared with the first day of 5 day consecutive non-zero records. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were created to study the effect of meteorological factors on flowering. The main pollen contributors were taxa of temperate ...
Source: Aerobiologia - April 28, 2022 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
Influence of meteorological parameters and PM2.5 on the level of culturable airborne bacteria and fungi in Abadan, Iran
In this study, we aimed to investigate culturable airborne bacteria and fungi levels in different sites of Abadan, and their association with meteorological parameters and PM2.5 levels. Abadan is one of the most industrialized cities in the southwest of Iran where over the current decade has experienced lots of dust storm episodes. In total, 400 air samples were collected in 6 months (autumn and winter) using a single-stage viable Andersen cascade impactor for sampling airborne bacteria and fungi and portable DustTrak Aerosol Monitor 8520 for measuring PM2.5 concentrations and meteorological parameters. Microbial concent...
Source: Aerobiologia - March 31, 2022 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
Microscopic fungi and other contaminants on airborne pollen grains of ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.)
AbstractFungal particles were observed on the pollen grains of ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) in air samples collected in Ny íregyháza, Hungary. Microscopical observations showed the colonization of pollen grains by different fungal taxa. Concentration data were correlated with meteorological factors, day of the year (DOY), PM10, PM2.5, and spore levels. Pollen grains infected by fungi became common at the end of the pollen season. These particles correlated positively with wind speed and airborne spores, but a negative correlation was found with temperature. Pollen grains were most frequently infected withCladospo...
Source: Aerobiologia - March 19, 2022 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
The understanding of phytopathogens as a tool in the conservation of heroic viticulture areas
AbstractThe special characteristics of heroic viticulture combine the geographical features of the territory where particular vineyards are located and the unique production methods used in making their wines reflected in their status as special protection zones. This work sets out the results of a 2 year project in which the impact of the main cryptogamic diseases affecting vines in the Ribeira Sacra designation of origin (northwest Spain) was studied. The incidence of such diseases was assessed to develop strategies for offsetting the high costs incurred by production and the adverse impact on the environment. For this p...
Source: Aerobiologia - March 17, 2022 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
Airborne bacteria and fungi in a wastewater treatment plant: type and characterization of bio-aerosols, emission characterization and mapping
This study was conducted at Sanandaj wastewater treatment plant in three seasons of winter, spring and summer to investigate the type and density of bio-aerosols. Sampling was performed using a sampling pump with a discharge rate of 28.3 L/min at a height of 1.5 m above the ground; the samples were taken from five stations: treatment plant entrance, aeration tank, grit chamber, drying sludge bed and laboratory. At each sampling point, time, temperature, relative humidity (Soleimani et al.), wind speed and particulate matter were recorded. In order to iden tify the bacteria, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and culture-bas...
Source: Aerobiologia - March 6, 2022 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
Atmospheric particulate matter deposition on birch catkins and pollen grains before pollination
In this study, APM transfer mechanisms to birch catkins and BPGs prior to pollination were investigated at an urban-industrial and a peri-urban site in Northern France. The surface of catkins was heavily polluted with micrometer-sized particles. Conversely, BPGs were relatively unpolluted with on average 0.1 particle.BPG−1. Differences in the chemical composition of adhered particles were observed as a function of the sampling sites. In contrast, no significant difference was found in terms of surface concentrations of APM adhered to BPGs and catkins between the two sites. Comparison of the number of particles deposite...
Source: Aerobiologia - March 2, 2022 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
