RESEARCH PAPER
Analysis of high allergenicity airborne pollen dispersion: common ragweed study case in Lithuania
 
More details
Hide details
1
Department of Environmental Research, Šiauliai University, Šiauliai, Lithuania
 
 
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2012;19(3):415-419
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The appearance of ragweed pollen in the air became more frequent in northerly countries. Attention of allergologists and aerobiologists in these countries is focused on the phenomenon that Ambrosia plants found relatively sporadic but the amount of pollen is high in particular days. Over the latter decade, a matter of particular concern has been Ambrosia pollen, whose appearance in the air is determined by the plants dispersing it and meteorological processes that alter pollen release, dissemination, transport or deposition on surfaces. Pollen data used in this study were collected in three pollen-trapping sites in Lithuania. The data corresponding to 2006-2011 years of pollen monitoring were documented graphically and evaluated statistically. Analysis of the pollen data suggests that although the number of ragweed plants identified has not increased over the latter decade, the total pollen count has been on the increase during the recent period. The highest atmospheric pollen load is established on the last days of August and first days of September. The estimated effect of meteorological parameters on pollen dispersal in the air showed that in Lithuania ragweed pollen is recorded when the relative air humidity is about 70%, and the minimal air temperature is not less than 12°C. Analysis of wind change effect on pollen count indicates that pollen is most often recorded in the air when the changes in wind speed are low (1-2 m/s). We have established a regularity exhibiting an increase in ragweed pollen count conditioned by south-eastern winds in Lithuania.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This work was funded by the Lithuanian National Program “Lithuania’s ecosystems: Climate Change and Anthropogenic Impact”. Project number LEK-15/2010 “Ragweed distribution, invasion possibilities in Lithuania and airborne pollen dispersion” (AMBROZIJA). The authors are grateful to the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service for the meteorological data.
 
REFERENCES (27)
1.
Simard MJ, Benoit DL. Effect of repetitive mowing on common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) pollen and seed production. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2011; 18: 55-62.
 
2.
Heinzerling L, Frew AJ, Bindslev-Jensen C, Bonini S, Bousquet J, Bresciani M, Carlsen KH, Cauwenberge P van, Darsow U, Fokkens WJ, Haahtela T, Hoecke H van, Jessberger B, Kowalski ML, Kopp T, Lahoz CN, Lodrup Carlsen KC, Papadopoulos NG, Ring J, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Vignola AM, Wöhrl S, Zuberbier T. Standard skin prick testing and sensitization to inhalant allergens across Europe – a survey from the GA2LEN network. Allergy 2005; 60: 1287-1300.
 
3.
Comtois P, Gagnon L. Concentration polliniques et fréquence des symptômes de pollinose: une méthode pour déterminer les seuils cliniques. Rev fr Allergol. 1988; 28: 279-286.
 
4.
Bergmann KC, Werchan D, Zuberbier MM. The threshold value of Ambrosia pollen inducing acute nasal reactions is very low. Allergo J. 2008; 17: 375-376.
 
5.
Gehrig R, Pietragalla-Köhler B, Clot B, Herren T, Graber MJ, Hauser M. Luftpollengehalt in der Schweiz 2010. Zürich, 2011.
 
6.
Dahl A, Strandhede SO, Wihl JA. Ragweed – An allergy risk in Sweden? Alergologia 1999; 15: 293-297.
 
7.
Kasprzyk I, Myszkowska D, Grewling Ł, Stach A, Šikoparija B, Skjøth CA, Smith M. The occurrence of Ambrosia pollen in Rzeszów, Kraków and Poznań, Poland: investigation of trends and possible transport of Ambrosia pollen from Ukraine. Int J of Biomet. 2011; 55: 633-644.
 
8.
Šaulienė I, Gudžinskas Z, Veriankaitė L, Malciūtė A, Leščiauskienė, V. Distribution of Ambrosia plants and airborne pollen in Lithuania. J Food Agr Environ. 2011; 9: 547-550.
 
9.
Behrendt H, Becker WM. Localization, release and bioavailability of pollen allergens: the influence of environmental factors. Curr Opin Immunol. 2001; 13: 709-715.
 
10.
Pushnov A, Berengarten M. Ecological aspects of industrial cooling towers exploitation and it’s influence to environment. J Environ Eng Landsc Manag. 2011; 19: 158-166.
 
11.
Maikštėnienė S, Arlauskienė A, Velykis A, Satkus A. Enhancement of competitive ability of cereals towards weeds by means of crop rotations. Zemdirbyste-Agriculture 2009; 96: 23-34.
 
12.
Feiza V, Feizienė D, Auškalnis A, Kadžienė G. Sustainable tillage: results from long-term field experiments on Cambisol. Zemdirbyste-Agriculture 2010; 97: 3-14.
 
13.
Makra L, Juhász M, Borsos E, Béczi R. Meteorological variables connected with airborne ragweed pollen in Southern Hungary. Int J of Biomet. 2004; 49: 37-47.
 
14.
Veriankaitė L, Siljamo P, Sofiev M, Šaulienė I, Kukkonen J. Modelling analysis of source regions of long-range transported birch pollen that influences allergenic seasons in Lithuania. Aerobiologia 2010; 26: 47-62.
 
15.
Galvonaitė A, Misiūnienė M, Valiukas D, Buitkuvienė MS. Lietuvos klimatas. Vilnius, 2007.
 
16.
Laaidi M, Laaidi K, Besancenot JP, Thibaudon M. Ragweed in France: an invasive plant and its allergenic pollen. Ann Allergy Asthma and Immun. 2003; 91: 195-201.
 
17.
Stach A, Smith M, Skjoth CA, Brandt J. Examining Ambrosia pollen episodes at Poznan (Poland) using back-trajectory analysis. Int J Biomet. 2007; 51: 275-286.
 
18.
Taramaracaz P, Lambelet C, Clot B, Keimer C, Hauser C. Ragweed (Ambrosia) progression and its health risks: will Switzerland resist this invasion? Swiss Med Wkly. 2005; 135: 538-548.
 
19.
Tosi A, Wüthrich B, Bonini M, Pietragalla-Köhler B. Time lag between Ambrosia sensitisation and Ambrosia allergy. Swiss Med Wkly. 2011; 141: 132-153.
 
20.
Smith M, Skjøth CA, Myszkowska DUA, Puc M, Stach A, Balwierz Z, Chlopek K, Piotrowska K, Kasprzyk I, Brandt J. Long-range transport of Ambrosia pollen to Poland. Agr For Met. 2008; 148: 1402-1411.
 
21.
Šaulienė I, Veriankaitė L. The distribution of airborne Ambrosia pollen in Lithuania. Acta Biologica Universitatis Daugavpiliensis 2009; 9: 255-262.
 
22.
Kasprzyk I. Non-native Ambrosia pollen in the atmosphere of Rzeszow (SE Poland): Evaluation of the effect of weather conditions on daily concentrations and starting dates of the pollen season. Int J of Biomet. 2008; 52: 341-351.
 
23.
Ogden EC, Hayes JV, Raynor GS. Diurnal patterns of pollen emission in Ambrosia, Phleum, Zea and Ricinus. Am J Bot. 1969; 56: 16-21.
 
24.
Laaidi K, Laaidi M. Airborne pollen of Ambrosia in Burgundy (France) 1996–1997. Aerobiologia 1999; 15: 65-69.
 
25.
Peternel R, Culig J, Hrga I, Hercog P. Airborne ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) pollen concentrations in Croatia, 2002–2004. Aerobiologia 2006; 22: 161-168.
 
26.
Rimkus E, Kažys J, Junevičiūtė J, Stonevičius E. Lietuvos klimato pokyčių XXI a. prognozė. Geografija 2007; 43: 37-47.
 
27.
Reinhardt F, Herle M, Bastiansen F, Streit B. Economic impact of the spread of alien species in Germany. Report No. UBA-FB 000441e. Federal Environmental Agency. Berlin, Germany, 2003.
 
eISSN:1898-2263
ISSN:1232-1966
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top