title: Assessment of airborne soy-hull allergen (Gly m 1) in the Port of Ancona, Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidemic asthma outbreaks are potentially a very high-risk medical situation in seaport towns where large volumes of soybean are loaded and unloaded Airborne allergen assessment plays a pivotal role in evaluating the resulting environmental pollution.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to measure the airborne Gly m 1 allergen level in the seaport of Ancona in order assess the soybean-specific allergenic risk for the city.
  
  
  METHODS
  Allergen and PM10 were evaluated at progressive distances from the port area. Allergen analysis was performed by monoclonal antibody-based immunoassay on the sampled filters. Daily meteorological data were obtained from the local meteorological station. For estimating the assimilative capacity of the atmosphere, an approach based on dispersive ventilation coefficient was tried.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The allergen concentrations detected were low (range = 0.4-171 ng/m3). A decreasing gradient of the airborne allergen from the unloading area (22.1 +/- 41.2 ng/m3) to the control area (0.6 +/- 0.7 ng/m3) was detected. The concentration of the airborne Gly m 1 was not coupled with the presence of the soy-carrying ships in the port. A statistically significant relationship between airborne allergen, PM10 and local meteorological parameters quantifies the association with the atmospheric condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Airborne Gly m 1 is part of the atmospheric dust of Ancona. The low level of this allergen seems consistent with the absence of asthma epidemic outbreak.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Immuno-Allergic and Respiratory Diseases, Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Antonicelli
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ruello
authors.forename: R I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Monsalve
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fava
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonifazi
mesh_terms: D000388:Air / Q000032:analysis*; D000485:Allergens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D002947:Cities; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D058872:Epidemics; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D044382:Population Groups; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013025:Glycine max / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C090803:Gly m I protein, Glycine max; D052638:Particulate Matter; D010940:Plant Proteins