RESEARCH PAPER
Quantitative trends in airborne loads of Celtis sinensis pollen and associations with meteorological variables in a subtropical Australian environment.
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1 |
Department of Medicine, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia |
2 |
Department of Botany, The University of Queensland, QLD, Australia |
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Brett James Green
Department of Medicine, Woolcock Allergen Unit, Room 461, Blackburn Building D06, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia 2006
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2004;11(2):297–302
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Celtis sinensis is an introduced plant species to the south eastern region of Queensland that has had a destructive affect on indigenous plant communities and its pollen has been identified as an allergen source. Pollen belonging to C. sinensis was sampled during a 5-year (June 1994-May1999) atmospheric pollen-monitoring programme in Brisbane, Australia, using a Burkard 7-day spore trap.The seasonal incidence of airborne C. sinensis pollen (CsP) in Brisbane occurred over a brief periodeach year during spring (August-September), while peak concentrations were restricted to the beginning of September. Individual CsP seasons were heterogeneous with daily counts within the range 1-10 grainsm-3 on no more than 60 sampling days; however, smaller airborne concentrations of CsP were recorded out of each season. Correlation co-efficients were significant each year for temperature (p <0.05),but were less consistent for precipitation (p>0.05) and relative humidity (p>0.05). A significant relationship (r2 =0.81, p=0.036) was established between the total CsP count and pre-seasonal average maximum temperature; however, periods of precipitation (> 2 mm) were demonstrated to significantly lower the daily concentrations of CsP from the atmosphere. Given the environmental and clinical significance of CsP and its prevalence in the atmosphere of Brisbane, a clinical population-based study is required to further understand the pollen's importance as a seasonal sensitizing source in this region.