title: Characterisation of the airborne pollen spectrum in Guadalajara (central Spain) and estimation of the potential allergy risk.
abstract: Aerobiological research into airborne pollen diversity and seasonal variations in pollen counts has become increasingly important over recent decades due to the growing incidence of asthma, rhinitis and other pollen-related allergic conditions. Airborne pollen in Guadalajara (Castilla-La Mancha, Spain) was studied over a 6-year period (2008-2013) using a Hirst-type volumetric spore trap. The highest pollen concentrations were recorded from February to June, coinciding with the pollen season of the pollen types that most contribute to the local airborne pollen spectrum: Cupressaceae (32.2%), Quercus (15.1%), Platanus (13.2%), Olea (8.3%), Populus (7.8%) and Poaceae (7.2%). These are therefore critical months for allergy sufferers. The pollen calendar was typically Mediterranean and comprised 25 pollen types. Between January and March, Cupressaceae pollen concentrations exceeded allergy risk thresholds on 38 days. Other woody species such as Olea and Platanus have a shorter pollen season, and airborne concentrations exceeded allergy risk thresholds on around 13 days in each case. Poaceae pollen concentrations attained allergy risk levels on 26 days between May and July. Other highly allergenic pollen types included Urticaceae and Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae, though these are less abundant than other pollen types in Guadalajara and did not exceed risk thresholds on more than 3 and 5 days, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Sciences (Botany), University of Castilla-La Mancha, E-45071, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rojo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Sciences (Botany), University of Castilla-La Mancha, E-45071, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rapp
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Sciences (Botany), University of Castilla-La Mancha, E-45071, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology II, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, E-28020, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabariego
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Sciences (Botany), University of Castilla-La Mancha, E-45071, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernández-González
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Sciences (Botany), University of Castilla-La Mancha, E-45071, Toledo, Spain. rosa.perez@uclm.es.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez-Badia
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D031658:Olea; D006109:Poaceae; D011058:Pollen; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012306:Risk; D012621:Seasons; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: Aeropalynology; Allergy; Pollen calendar; Pollen spectrum
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