title: Platanus pollen season in Andalusia (southern Spain): trends and modeling.
abstract: Platanus is a major cause of pollen allergy in many Spanish cities. The present paper reports an analysis of Platanus pollen season throughout the Andalusia region (southern Spain), which has among the highest pollen counts and the highest incidence of Platanus-related allergies in Europe. The main aim was to analyze pollen season trends from 1992 to 2010 in Andalusia; models were also constructed to forecast the start of the season. Daily pollen counts were recorded using Hirst-type volumetric spore-traps. Pollen season start-dates were very similar at all sites, usually occurring in March. The pollen season was delayed over the study period. The Pollen-season duration and Pollen index generally increased throughout the study period. The starting date for temperature accumulation was around the 10th February, although the threshold temperatures varied by site. The regional model for Andalusia failed to provide sufficiently accurate results compared with sub-regional or local models. For modeling purposes, three sub-regions are recommended: Inland, East Coast and West Coast.
authors: Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, Campus Universitario Rabanales, University of Córdoba, Edificio Celestino Mutis, 3a planta, 14071, Córdoba, Spain. bv2pimur@uco.es
authors: Purificación
authors: P
authors: Alcázar
authors: Herminia
authors: H
authors: García-Mozo
authors: Maria Del Mar
authors: Mdel M
authors: Trigo
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Ruiz
authors: Francisco José
authors: FJ
authors: González-Minero
authors: Pablo
authors: P
authors: Hidalgo
authors: Consuelo
authors: C
authors: Díaz de la Guardia
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Galán
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D002947:Cities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011058:Pollen; D012621:Seasons; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000485:Allergens