‘Pollen potency’: the relationship between atmospheric pollen counts and allergen exposure
AbstractPollen allergies are responsible for a considerable global public health burden, and understanding exposure is critical to addressing the health impacts. Atmospheric pollen counts are routinely used as a predictor of risk; however, immune responses are triggered by specific proteins known as allergens, which occur both within and on the surface of the pollen grain. The ratio between atmospheric pollen counts and allergen concentrations ( ‘pollen potency’) has been shown to be inconsistent, with potentially important implications for pollen monitoring practice. Despite this, there has been no previous synthesis ...
Source: Aerobiologia - September 20, 2021 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
On the measurement uncertainty of Hirst-type volumetric pollen and spore samplers
AbstractHirst-type volumetric spore traps are used across the globe and are the current standard instrument for monitoring pollen. While they suffer from various issues related to sampling, measurement, and human error, they are, nevertheless, relatively cost-efficient and robust instruments that have been in use for decades. They are also the only reference against which newer instruments can be directly evaluated and it is thus important to understand and quantify all errors to make fair comparisons. Here, we investigate the variability across three Hirst-type traps run in parallel for three months during the main pollen...
Source: Aerobiologia - September 12, 2021 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
Comparison of Alternaria spore levels between two areas within the same city (Salamanca, Middle West Spain)
AbstractThe purpose of this study is to contribute to the knowledge about fungal spores in the atmosphere of the city of Salamanca (Middle West Spain), through the comparative study ofAlternaria spore levels in two different sampling points within the same city. The study was done in terms of seasonal and hourly distribution and the possible influence of the main meteorological parameters on their atmospheric concentrations. The sampling was carried out from 17 February 2014 to 16 February 2016, both included, with two Hirst-type volumetric spore trap samplers, in two buildings in the city: one in a semi-urban environment,...
Source: Aerobiologia - September 12, 2021 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
On the measurement uncertainty of Hirst-type volumetric pollen and spore samplers
AbstractHirst-type volumetric spore traps are used across the globe and are the current standard instrument for monitoring pollen. While they suffer from various issues related to sampling, measurement, and human error, they are, nevertheless, relatively cost-efficient and robust instruments that have been in use for decades. They are also the only reference against which newer instruments can be directly evaluated and it is thus important to understand and quantify all errors to make fair comparisons. Here, we investigate the variability across three Hirst-type traps run in parallel for three months during the main pollen...
Source: Aerobiologia - September 12, 2021 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
Comparison of Alternaria spore levels between two areas within the same city (Salamanca, Middle West Spain)
AbstractThe purpose of this study is to contribute to the knowledge about fungal spores in the atmosphere of the city of Salamanca (Middle West Spain), through the comparative study ofAlternaria spore levels in two different sampling points within the same city. The study was done in terms of seasonal and hourly distribution and the possible influence of the main meteorological parameters on their atmospheric concentrations. The sampling was carried out from 17 February 2014 to 16 February 2016, both included, with two Hirst-type volumetric spore trap samplers, in two buildings in the city: one in a semi-urban environment,...
Source: Aerobiologia - September 12, 2021 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
Analysis of quality control outcomes of grass pollen identification and enumeration: experience matters
AbstractPollen identification and enumeration is subject to human errors, and hence, it is crucial to evaluate the proficiency of pollen counters. Many networks still depend on manual pollen monitoring, and those adopting automation use manual counting data as a reference. A quality control exercise was undertaken across the AusPollen Aerobiology Collaboration Network to compare data analysis methods, gauge factors associated with accuracy, and improvements in counting proficiency. Counters were instructed to count grass and other pollen of the same two slides. Reported pollen concentrations were compared to an approximati...
Source: Aerobiologia - August 30, 2021 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
Unusually high birch (Betula spp.) pollen concentrations in Poland in 2016 related to long-range transport (LRT) and the regional pollen occurrence
AbstractIn 2016, the highest birch (Betula spp.) pollen concentrations were recorded in Krak ów (Poland) since the beginning of pollen observations in 1991. The aim of this study was to ascertain the reason for this phenomenon, taking the local sources of pollen in Poland and long-range transport (LRT) episodes associated with the pollen influx from other European countries into account. T hree periods of higher pollen concentrations in Kraków in 2016 were investigated with the use of pollen data, phenological data, meteorological data and the HYSPLIT numerical model to calculate trajectories up to 4 days back (96 h) a...
Source: Aerobiologia - August 21, 2021 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
Forecasting Betula and Poaceae airborne pollen concentrations on a 3-hourly resolution in Augsburg, Germany: toward automatically generated, real-time predictions
AbstractAirborne allergenic pollen impact the health of a great part of the global population. Under climate change conditions, the abundance of airborne pollen has been rising dramatically and so is the effect on sensitized individuals. The first line of allergy management is allergen avoidance, which, to date, is by rule achieved via forecasting of daily pollen concentrations. The aim of this study was to elaborate on 3-hourly predictive models, one of the very few to the best of our knowledge, attempting to forecast pollen concentration based on near-real-time automatic pollen measurements. The study was conducted in Au...
Source: Aerobiologia - August 19, 2021 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
Relevance of aerobiological studies in Nigeria: a two-year aerospora record of Lagos
AbstractPollen and fungal spores (aerospora) are major atmospheric bioaerosols for pollen allergy sufferers. Aerospora types and concentration vary seasonally, depending upon the flowering period and meteorological factors which are variable in different geographical regions. The aim of this study was to analyze a two-year record of aerospora from two locations (Epe and Ojo) in Lagos (Nigeria), from May 2014 to April 2016. Aerospora were monitored with a modified Tauber sampler. The residual solution was harvested monthly throughout the duration of the study and acetolyzed, and microscopic slides were prepared. Aerospora w...
Source: Aerobiologia - August 19, 2021 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
Community structure of environmental microorganisms associated with COVID-19 affected patients
AbstractTo clarify the characteristics and distribution of hospital environmental microbiome associated with confirmed COVID-19 patients. Environmental samples with varying degrees of contamination which were associated with confirmed COVID-19 patients were collected, including 13 aerosol samples collected near eight patients in different wards, five swabs from one patient ’s skin and his personal belongings, and two swabs from the surface of positive pressure respiratory protective hood and the face shield from a physician who had close contact with one patient. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) was used to ...
Source: Aerobiologia - August 19, 2021 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
Unusually high birch (Betula spp.) pollen concentrations in Poland in 2016 related to long-range transport (LRT) and the regional pollen occurrence
AbstractIn 2016, the highest birch (Betula spp.) pollen concentrations were recorded in Krak ów (Poland) since the beginning of pollen observations in 1991. The aim of this study was to ascertain the reason for this phenomenon, taking the local sources of pollen in Poland and long-range transport (LRT) episodes associated with the pollen influx from other European countries into account. T hree periods of higher pollen concentrations in Kraków in 2016 were investigated with the use of pollen data, phenological data, meteorological data and the HYSPLIT numerical model to calculate trajectories up to 4 days back (96 h) a...
Source: Aerobiologia - August 19, 2021 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
Spatial distribution of fungi from the analysis of aerobiological data with a gamma function
AbstractFungi are an important component of ecosystems. Some fungi are widely distributed, while others are limited to certain habitats. Studies based on airborne fungal spores can help to know the geographical distribution of fungi in the territory. Our aim was to show that a gamma probability density function (gpdf) based on a database of 20 airborne fungal spore taxa concentrations in eight localities of Catalonia (NE Spain) for a period of 20 years was a useful tool to map the distribution of these taxa in this region, as well as to establish a general classification on their sporulation through the alpha parameter o...
Source: Aerobiologia - August 19, 2021 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
Characteristics of airborne microbial community in Hefei, eastern China, under a good quality in mid-spring
AbstractWhether airborne microbial community can be affected by air quality in a short time has been controversial. To study the relationships between the hub bacteria, fungi, and air quality will allow to better understand the mechanism of microbial community change. Total suspended particulate samples were collected to explore the microbial community by metagenome sequencing. Results showed that the bacterial richness and diversity showed a weak uptrend with the increase in air quality index (AQI). The bacterial community was relatively stable, and its minor change was more likely to be caused by AQI. However, the fungal...
Source: Aerobiologia - August 19, 2021 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
