Po PolskuLaboratory of Palaeoecology and Archaeobotany, Department of Plant Ecology and Nature Protection, Gdansk University, Gdansk, Poland
Published in: R. Spiewak (Editor): "Pollens and Pollinosis: Current Problems". Institute of Agricultural Medicine, Lublin (Poland) 1995, pages 23-24.
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In 1994 long-time aeropalynological studies were taken up in order to make a pollen calendar for the Three-town area. The data received so far are of preliminary kind.
Palynological data obtained from two sampling stations, placed at the height of 30 meters in Gdansk and Gdynia were analysed. The pollen record comes from the two following years 1994 and 1995.
Pollen studies were carried out as a part of an aeropalynological monitoring project by means of, a widely used in Europe, Burkard 7-day volumetric spore trap. Laboratory preparation and pollen counts followed the methods described by M. Hjelmroos (1994).
During two investigated 1994 and 1995 seasons about 40 plant species were recorded at both sampling stations. Almost half of them are known to cause allergies. Comparison of the data from two sampling sites shows differences in pollen concentration and the length of its presence in the air within each season. Most probably it results from different composition of local vegetation and different position of the stations towards the moraine hills surrounding the Three-town area. Thus, it can be assumed that in particular borough of the town patients can have allergic symptoms at slightly different times.
Basing on the analysed material it was observed that the most important differences refer to the dates of the first pollen appearance, whereas periods of maximum pollen concentration are more or less the same for each year. In 1994 the first catches of Betula pollen were registered about two weeks earlier than in 1995, what may have been the effect of low temperatures in February and March 1995. For the same Betula pollen it was found that the maximum concentration in 1994 and 1995 falls on the same time. Similar trends were observed in case of other trees like Alnus, Corylus and Populus.
An important, especially for allergology, is the fact that the maxima of pollen concentration of some allergenic species occur at the same time. Such situation was observed while comparing pollen curves of Alnus and Corylus (maximum 25 February - 10 March), Populus and Betula (maximum 20-28 April), Urtica and Plantago lanceolata (maximum 10-20 July).
Both analysed seasons differ in respect to absolute values of pollen concentration of some plant species. In 1995 much higher pollen values of Pinus, Fagus and Urtica were recorded. At the same time a lower pollen count of Betula and Rumex was noticed. Other species did not show distinct differences within these two years.
Construction of pollen calendar for the Three-town area needs continuing. The data analysed so far suggest that within this area the aeropalynological and thus allergological situation is differentiated. An important role plays here geomorfological configuration of particular boroughs of the town but also the distance from the sea and the nearest farming lands. Another important factor, which should be taken under consideration while interpreting the data, is the management of green areas within the town.
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