title: [Methods of studying airborne pollen and pollen calendars].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pollen is a major cause of allergy and monitoring pollen in the air is relevant for diagnosis, treatment and prevention, as well as for biomedical and biological research. Many aero-biological studies have been conducted all over the world to ascertain aerial concentrations and seasonality of pollen grains.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Monitoring of airborne biological particles is carried out by various gravimetric, impaction, and suction sampling devices. The Hirst trap, later modified to Burkard(®) or Lanzoni(®) traps, is the most widely used sampler. Counting and identifying pollen grains is then performed under optical microscopy. Based on differences in airborne pollen recorded over several years of observation, pollen calendars have been drawn up as aids to allergy diagnosis and management but they could be replaced advantageously by allergy-risk calendars. Pollen counts also provide valuable information about the geographical origin of pollen grains.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Since the identifying and counting of pollen grains in ambient air samples is still a demanding and time-consuming task, there is an increasing interest in the automation of pollen monitoring. Furthermore, the divergence sometimes observed between clinical observations and pollen counts provides an incentive to collect aero-allergens directly. Lastly, pollen monitoring could be improved through the use of personal bioaerosol samplers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Great progress has been made in aerobiology for over a century, but much remains to be accomplished, particularly in relation with the standardization of methods.
authors.affiliation: Réseau national de surveillance aérobiologique, 69690 Brussieu, France. michel.thibaudon@wanadoo.fr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thibaudon
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caillaud
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Besancenot
mesh_terms: D000388:Air / Q000032:analysis; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis; D001272:Atmosphere; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011058:Pollen; D012621:Seasons; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: Aerobiology; Aérobiologie; Calendrier pollinique; Capteur de pollen; Pollen; Pollen calendar; Pollen monitoring; Pollen sampler; Surveillance pollinique