engleski

Pollen and weather monitoring for the purpose of future forecasting

Knowledge of pollen types and concentrations during the pollen season is very important, especially because of the constant increase of people that are suffering form allergy. As the allergenic plants are characteristic for particular areas and depend on geographic, climate zone and vegetation, monitoring of airborne pollen types in Zagreb, Croatia has been started in 2002. A volumetric Hirst sampler has been used to sample airborne pollen. Under a light microscope qualitative and quantitative pollen analysis was performed. The total pollen concentration (expressed in number of pollen grains contained in the 1 m3 of air) and concentration of individual allergenic plants were analysed depending on temperature, precipitation, cloudiness, relative humidity, sun duration and wind. The aim of this study was to determine the onset, course and termination of the pollen season for allergenic plants in the Zagreb area according to the different weather parameters during the year 2002, as help in prevention the symptoms of allergic reaction in pollen sensitive individuals. Performed analyses identified 12 groups of highly allergenic plants (alder, hazel tree, cypress, birch, ash tree, hornbeam, grasses, elder, nettles, sweet chestnut, mugwort and ragweed). Pollen season has started in February, with the birch pollen domination. During the May and June prevailed grass pollen, whereas till the end of pollen season (end of September) dominated pollen of herbaceous plants of the genus Urtica (nettle) and pollen of Ambrosia (ragweed). During the pollen season (February to September) monthly air temperatures were mostly higher or considerably higher than the 30-years mean monthly values (monthly average for the normal 1961-1990 period, recommended by WMO). The deficit of precipitation was noticed at the beginning of the year 2002, whereas from April to October prevailed more precipitation then normal, with an exception of June that was quite dry month. On the daily scale, it has been showed that variation in airborne pollen concentrations greatly depend on weather conditions, where the temperature and precipitation have the biggest impacts. It has been showed that the pollen concentrations decline with the temperature decrease (and opposite), whereas on days with rain the concentration is smaller as well. Although drawn conclusion are based on one season only, proceeding with monitoring and sampling data is necessary to gain a clearer inside into relationship between weather and pollen concentration in the air. The results of future studies will provide a base for the forecasting of the initial occurrence of airborne pollen and its behaviour in the atmosphere. On that way it will be possible to allow the individual allergic to particular plant pollen to be informed on time and to adjust their daily activities so as to avoid contact with the allergens, which is the most efficient preventive measure.

weather conditions; pollen season; monitoring

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