title: Pollinosis in a Mediterranean area (Riviera Ligure, Italy): ten years of pollen counts, correlation with clinical sensitization and meteorological data.
abstract: We present in this study the results of 10 years of pollen counts in the atmosphere of San Remo, Italy. These results were compared with clinical sensitizations in 5481 pollen-allergic patients of both sexes (children and adults) living in the same area. Pollen counts showed that the pollens found in greatest quantities were the Cupressaceae (22.4%), followed by the Urticaceae (Parietaria officinalis, 17.4%), the Oleaceae (Olea europaea, 10.8%) and the Pinaceae (10.1%), the Poaceae being present in smaller quantities (5.2%). In contrast, the clinical importance of these pollens, as assessed by anamnesis, skin tests and, in some instances, nasal or bronchial provocation tests, showed a high incidence of clinical sensitization to P. officinalis (41.8%) and Poaceae (29.5%); the other pollens, i.e., O. europaea (15.4%) and Cupressaceae (5.7%), were of lesser importance. These findings differ from data obtained in similar studies in other European countries, including other parts of Italy. A statistically significant positive correlation between pollen counts and some meteorological factors, especially temperature, was observed; for instance, the higher the average temperature in July of the previous year, the greater the airborne presence of Palmaceae, P. officinalis and Cupressaceae.
authors.affiliation: Ospedale Intemelio, Bordighera Im., Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ariano
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Panzani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiapella
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Augeri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D014887:Weather