Diurnal concentrations of airborne pollen in Rabka (Southern Poland) in 1991

Idalia Kasprzyk

Department of Paleobotany, Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland

Published in: R. Spiewak (Editor): "Pollens and Pollinosis: Current Problems". Institute of Agricultural Medicine, Lublin (Poland) 1995, page 29.

Back to the book's Table of Contents

Po Polsku

Objective

The object of the research was the analysis of diurnal concetration of pollen in aeroplankton in Rabka. The study is validated by the fact that here is located the Institute of Mother and Child where allergic diseases of children are treated.

Material and Methods

Pollen fall in Rabka was continuously monitored in 1991 using Burkard device. The base of analysis were diurnal pollen counts of taxa occurring abundantly or relatively abundantly during a steady period of occurrence in aeroplankton. The numbers given are arithmetic means.

Results

Alnus - the diurnal curve of pollen concentration shows two peaks: the first between 9-7 a.m., and the second at 3 p.m.

Betula - the diurnal curve has three peaks; the absolute maximum was found between 1-3 p.m., the lower peaks were found at 5 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Corylus - the maximum number of pollen was found at 7 a.m., the second peak is at 5 p.m.

Pinus - the first distinct peak is at 7 a.m., the second at 3 p.m.; the curve attains also the next small peak at 1 p.m.

Poaceae - maximum pollen number per 1 m³ of air was found at 1 p.m.; the lower maximum values were between 5-7 a.m. and 9-11 p.m.

Urtica - the diurnal curve shows clearly one peak with maximum at 1 p.m.

Fraxinus - the maximum number of pollen spores per 1 m³ of air is at 1 p.m.; the lower peak occurs at 5 p.m., the next at 1 a.m.

Plantago - the diurnal curve shows four peaks; maximum values were found at 9 a.m., the next at 3 p.m., 11 p.m. and 3 a.m.

Conclusions

1. None of taxa investigated exceeded a value of 50 pollen grains/1m³/hour in aeroplankton in Rabka in 1991. This value is commonly recognized as a threshold limit for allergy symptoms in sensitive patients.
2. The only one-peak diurnal curve is that of Urtica. The rest of analysed taxa have two, three or four maxima.
3. The lowest diurnal concentrations of pollen were found between 7 p.m. - 5 a.m. and between 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Back to the book's Table of Contents

© Radoslaw Spiewak (source code). This page is part of the alergologia.org website.

Page created: 29 April 2004, last updated: 8 January 2006.