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Medek DE, Katelaris CH, Milic A, Beggs PJ, Lampugnani ER, Vicendese D, Erbas B, Davies JM. Aerobiology matters: Why people in the community access pollen information and how they use it. Clin Transl Allergy 2025; 15:e70031. [PMID: 39856010 PMCID: PMC11761002 DOI: 10.1002/clt2.70031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 11/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2025] [Indexed: 01/27/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, many pollen monitoring networks provide the community with daily pollen information, but there are limited data on health consumer uses and benefits. This research investigated why individuals in the community access pollen information, how they use it, and the perceived benefits. METHODS In- and post-pollen season surveys (2017-2018 and 2018-2019) enquired about symptoms, diagnoses, symptom management, access, benefits and usefulness of pollen information provided by the AusPollen Partnership. Open text responses were examined by thematic analysis. Theme frequency and quantitative data were compared across pollen seasons, within and after the season, and between respondents with and without access to AusPollen information. RESULTS Surveys were completed 4044 times by 3604 individuals who predominantly self-reported severe and frequent allergic rhinitis symptoms. Local AusPollen information was accessible to 84.6% of participants, and was reportedly used for preparation and planning (34.6%), guiding activities (32.9%), and medication decisions (28.2%). When asked how pollen information helped, similar themes were evident; but 16.1% also mentioned safety for themselves and others. However, secondary analysis of survey responses indicated that self-reported medication use did not differ between those with or without access to pollen information or between time points surveyed. Suggestions for improvement included extended duration (16.4%), wider geographic range (13.5%), and information on other taxa (17.2%). CONCLUSION There was a perceived need for localised, detailed and timely pollen information by people with pollen allergy. Whilst responses suggested this helped inform behaviours linked to allergen avoidance, further education strategies on allergic rhinitis control are needed to support patients who self-manage their condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle E. Medek
- School of Biomedical SciencesCentre Immunology and Infection ControlCentre for EnvironmentQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Constance H. Katelaris
- School of MedicineWestern Sydney UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Department of ImmunologyCampbelltown HospitalSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Andelija Milic
- School of Biomedical SciencesCentre Immunology and Infection ControlCentre for EnvironmentQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Paul J. Beggs
- Faculty of Science and EngineeringSchool of Natural SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Edwin R. Lampugnani
- School of BiosciencesThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Present address:
AirHealth Pty LtdParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Present address:
Menzies Institute for Medical ResearchCollege of Health and MedicineUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia.
| | - Don Vicendese
- The Melbourne School of Population and Global HealthUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Present address:
School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical SciencesLa Trobe UniversityBundooraVictoriaAustralia.
| | - Bircan Erbas
- School of Public HealthLaTrobe UniversityBundooraVictoriaAustralia
| | - Janet M. Davies
- School of Biomedical SciencesCentre Immunology and Infection ControlCentre for EnvironmentQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
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Espinosa-Correa Á, Maya-Manzano JM, Alzate-Guarín FA. Airborne pollen concentrations overpass expectations in the tropical city of Medellín, Colombia. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2025; 958:178066. [PMID: 39693665 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.178066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2024] [Revised: 11/20/2024] [Accepted: 12/09/2024] [Indexed: 12/20/2024]
Abstract
Aerobiology in the tropics is still a science in development, where very little about their dynamics is known. Airborne pollen concentrations in the city of Medellín (Colombia) were measured using a Hirst-type sampler and correlated with meteorological parameters (relative humidity, rainfall, temperature, wind speed, and wind direction, this last analyzed by using circular statistics). Sampling was conducted over three years (2019-2022), and pollen grains were detected on all days of sampling, at higher concentrations than expected for tropical conditions. The highest pollen concentrations were observed from December to January and July-August, corresponding to the months with the lowest rainfall, which sheds light about how La Niña phenomena influenced pollen concentrations during the sampling period. The Main Pollen Season (MPS) ranged in length from 277 to 342 days. The highest intra-diurnal peaks pollen concentrations occurred around noon, whilst something very different and rarely reported occurs with Cecropia, which is much more abundant at night, from 20:00 to 1:00 h. Circular statistics revealed statistically significant wind direction patterns from SW, matching the same intra-diurnal pollen variations. This work helps to complete the blurred situation of the Aerobiology in the Neotropics and the dynamics of particles in the tropical atmosphere, being a first step towards the construction of pollen calendars to help pollen sufferers to mitigate symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álex Espinosa-Correa
- Grupo de Estudios Botánicos GEOBOTA, Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Calle 70 No. 52-21, Medellín, Colombia.
| | - Jose M Maya-Manzano
- Área de Botánica, Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Ecología y Ciencias de la Tierra, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas s/n, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Fernando A Alzate-Guarín
- Grupo de Estudios Botánicos GEOBOTA, Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Calle 70 No. 52-21, Medellín, Colombia
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3
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Dwarakanath D, Milic A, Beggs PJ, Wraith D, Davies JM. A global survey addressing sustainability of pollen monitoring. World Allergy Organ J 2024; 17:100997. [PMID: 39634514 PMCID: PMC11612360 DOI: 10.1016/j.waojou.2024.100997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 08/18/2024] [Accepted: 10/29/2024] [Indexed: 12/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Contemporary airborne pollen records underpin environmental health warnings, yet how pollen monitoring networks are sustained is poorly understood. This study investigated by whom and how pollen monitoring sites across the globe are managed and funded. Methods Coordinators listed in the Worldwide Map of Pollen Monitoring Stations were invited to complete a digital questionnaire designed to survey the people and organisations involved, types, and duration of funding sources, as well as uses, purpose, and sharing of pollen information. Quantitative data were analysed by descriptive statistics and open text responses were examined by qualitative thematic analysis. Results Eighty-four of 241 (35%) coordinators from 37 countries responded. Universities (42%) and hospitals/health services (29%) were most commonly responsible for monitoring. Most sites involved employees (87%) in pollen monitoring, of whom many were part-time (41%) or casual (11%), as well as students (29%) and volunteers (6%). Pollen monitoring was additional to core duties for over one-third of sites (35%), and 25% reported pollen monitoring was an in-kind contribution. Whilst funding for pollen monitoring was often sourced from government agencies (33%), government research grants (24%), or non-government grants (8%), 92% reported more than 1 funding source, and 99% reported dependence on "partnerships or grants requiring co-contributions", indicating a complex resourcing structure, of short duration (median 3 years). Common reasons why airborne pollen was monitored included clinical allergy, population environmental health, aerobiology and forecasting. Climate change, research, and social duty were also referenced. Conclusions Aerobiological monitoring is currently sustained by complex, insecure, and insufficient resourcing, as well as reliance on volunteerism. There are multiple direct, health-related, and other important uses of aerobiology data, that are aligned to multiple dimensions of sustainability. Evidence from this study can be used to inform the design of strategies to sustain the generation of aerobiology data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Dwarakanath
- School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Andelija Milic
- School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Paul J. Beggs
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Darren Wraith
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Janet M. Davies
- School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4059, Australia
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4
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Makra L, Coviello L, Gobbi A, Jurman G, Furlanello C, Brunato M, Ziska LH, Hess JJ, Damialis A, Garcia MPP, Tusnády G, Czibolya L, Ihász I, Deák ÁJ, Mikó E, Dorner Z, Harry SK, Bruffaerts N, Packeu A, Saarto A, Toiviainen L, Louna-Korteniemi M, Pätsi S, Thibaudon M, Oliver G, Charalampopoulos A, Vokou D, Przedpelska-Wasowicz EM, Guðjohnsen ER, Bonini M, Celenk S, Ozaslan C, Oh JW, Sullivan K, Ford L, Kelly M, Levetin E, Myszkowska D, Severova E, Gehrig R, Calderón-Ezquerro MDC, Guerra CG, Leiva-Guzmán MA, Ramón GD, Barrionuevo LB, Peter J, Berman D, Katelaris CH, Davies JM, Burton P, Beggs PJ, Vergamini SM, Valencia-Barrera RM, Traidl-Hoffmann C. Forecasting daily total pollen concentrations on a global scale. Allergy 2024; 79:2173-2185. [PMID: 38995241 DOI: 10.1111/all.16227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is evidence that global anthropogenic climate change may be impacting floral phenology and the temporal and spatial characteristics of aero-allergenic pollen. Given the extent of current and future climate uncertainty, there is a need to strengthen predictive pollen forecasts. METHODS The study aims to use CatBoost (CB) and deep learning (DL) models for predicting the daily total pollen concentration up to 14 days in advance for 23 cities, covering all five continents. The model includes the projected environmental parameters, recent concentrations (1, 2 and 4 weeks), and the past environmental explanatory variables, and their future values. RESULTS The best pollen forecasts include Mexico City (R2(DL_7) ≈ .7), and Santiago (R2(DL_7) ≈ .8) for the 7th forecast day, respectively; while the weakest pollen forecasts are made for Brisbane (R2(DL_7) ≈ .4) and Seoul (R2(DL_7) ≈ .1) for the 7th forecast day. The global order of the five most important environmental variables in determining the daily total pollen concentrations is, in decreasing order: the past daily total pollen concentration, future 2 m temperature, past 2 m temperature, past soil temperature in 28-100 cm depth, and past soil temperature in 0-7 cm depth. City-related clusters of the most similar distribution of feature importance values of the environmental variables only slightly change on consecutive forecast days for Caxias do Sul, Cape Town, Brisbane, and Mexico City, while they often change for Sydney, Santiago, and Busan. CONCLUSIONS This new knowledge of the ecological relationships of the most remarkable variables importance for pollen forecast models according to clusters, cities and forecast days is important for developing and improving the accuracy of airborne pollen forecasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- László Makra
- Institute of Economics and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Szeged, Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary
| | - Luca Coviello
- University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Enogis s.r.l., Trento, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Mauro Brunato
- Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Lewis H Ziska
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jeremy J Hess
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, State of Washington, USA
| | - Athanasios Damialis
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Maria Pilar Plaza Garcia
- Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Clinic of Augsburg & University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Gábor Tusnády
- Alfréd Rényi Institute of Mathematics, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Lilit Czibolya
- Institute of Economics and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Szeged, Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary
| | - István Ihász
- Hungarian Meteorological Service, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Áron József Deák
- Institute of Economics and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Szeged, Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary
| | - Edit Mikó
- Institute of Animal Science and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Szeged, Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary
| | - Zita Dorner
- Department of Integrated Plant Protection, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Science (MATE) (former SZIE), Plant Protection Institute, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Susan K Harry
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
| | | | - Ann Packeu
- Mycology & Aerobiology Service, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Annika Saarto
- Biodiversity Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | | | | | - Sanna Pätsi
- Biodiversity Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Michel Thibaudon
- Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique, Brussieu, France
| | - Gilles Oliver
- Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique, Brussieu, France
| | - Athanasios Charalampopoulos
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Despoina Vokou
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | | | - Maira Bonini
- Department of Hygiene and Health Prevention, ATS (Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan), Hygiene and Public Health Service, Milan, Italy
| | - Sevcan Celenk
- Science and Art Faculty, Biology Department, Aerobiology Laboratory, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Cumali Ozaslan
- Department of Plant Protection (Weed Science), Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey
| | - Jae-Won Oh
- Department of Pediatrics & Adolescent, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Medical Center, Guri Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | | | - Linda Ford
- Asthma and Allergy Center, Bellevue, Nebraska, USA
| | | | - Estelle Levetin
- University of Tulsa, College of Engineering & Natural Sciences, Department of Biological Science, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Dorota Myszkowska
- Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Department of Clinical and Environmental Allergology, Kraków, Poland
| | - Elena Severova
- Biological Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Regula Gehrig
- Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA, Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss, Zurich-Airport, Switzerland
| | - María Del Carmen Calderón-Ezquerro
- Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, México, Mexico
| | - César Guerrero Guerra
- Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, México, Mexico
| | | | | | | | - Jonny Peter
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur, South Africa
| | - Dilys Berman
- Allergy Immunology Department, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Connie H Katelaris
- Western Sydney University and Campbelltown Hospital, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Janet M Davies
- School of Biomedical Science, Queensland University of Technology, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- Office of Research, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Pamela Burton
- Department of Medicine, Immunology and Allergy, Campbelltown Hospital, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paul J Beggs
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sandra María Vergamini
- Centro de Ciȇncias Biológicas e da Saúde, Museu de Ciȇncias Naturais, University of Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
- Chair of Environmental Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Augsburg, Germany
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Helmholtz Centre, Munich, Augsburg, Germany
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
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5
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Simunovic M, Boyle J, Erbas B, Baker P, Davies JM. Airborne grass pollen and thunderstorms influence emergency department asthma presentations in a subtropical climate. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 236:116754. [PMID: 37500047 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Grass pollen is considered a major outdoor aeroallergen source worldwide. It is proposed as a mechanism for thunderstorm asthma that lightning during thunderstorms promotes electrical rupture of pollen grains that leads to allergic airway inflammation. However, most evidence of associations between grass pollen and asthma comes from temperate regions. The objective of this study was to investigate short-term associations between airborne grass pollen exposure and asthma emergency department presentations in a subtropical population. METHODS Episode level public hospital presentations for asthma (2016-2020) were extracted for greater Brisbane, Australia, from Queensland Health's Emergency Data Collection. Concentrations of airborne pollen were determined prospectively using a continuous flow volumetric impaction sampler. Daily time series analysis using a generalised additive mixed model were applied to determine associations between airborne grass pollen concentrations, and lightning count data, with asthma presentations. RESULTS Airborne grass pollen showed an association with asthma presentations in Brisbane; a significant association was detected from same day exposure to three days lag. Grass pollen exposure increased daily asthma presentations up to 48.5% (95% CI: 12%, 85.9%) in female children. Lightning did not modify the effect of grass pollen on asthma presentations, however a positive association was detected between cloud-to-cloud lightning strikes and asthma presentations (P = 0.048). CONCLUSION Airborne grass pollen exposure may exacerbate symptoms of asthma requiring urgent medical care of children and adults in a subtropical climate. This knowledge indicates an opportunity for targeted management of respiratory allergic disease to reduce patient and health system burden. For the first time, an influence of lightning on asthma was detected in this context. The outcomes support a need for continued pollen monitoring and surveillance of thunderstorm asthma risk in subtropical regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Simunovic
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunity and Infection Control, Centre for Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Justin Boyle
- Australian E-Health Research Centre, The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bircan Erbas
- School of Psychology and Public Health, LaTrobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Philip Baker
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Janet M Davies
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunity and Infection Control, Centre for Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Office of Research, Metro North Hospital and Health Services, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
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6
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Frisk CA, Adams-Groom B, Smith M. Isolating the species element in grass pollen allergy: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 883:163661. [PMID: 37094678 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Grass pollen is a leading cause of allergy in many countries, particularly Europe. Although many elements of grass pollen production and dispersal are quite well researched, gaps still remain around the grass species that are predominant in the air and which of those are most likely to trigger allergy. In this comprehensive review we isolate the species aspect in grass pollen allergy by exploring the interdisciplinary interdependencies between plant ecology, public health, aerobiology, reproductive phenology and molecular ecology. We further identify current research gaps and provide open ended questions and recommendations for future research in an effort to focus the research community to develop novel strategies to combat grass pollen allergy. We emphasise the role of separating temperate and subtropical grasses, identified through divergence in evolutionary history, climate adaptations and flowering times. However, allergen cross-reactivity and the degree of IgE connectivity in sufferers between the two groups remains an area of active research. The importance of future research to identify allergen homology through biomolecular similarity and the connection to species taxonomy and practical implications of this to allergenicity is further emphasised. We also discuss the relevance of eDNA and molecular ecological techniques (DNA metabarcoding, qPCR and ELISA) as important tools in quantifying the connection between the biosphere with the atmosphere. By gaining more understanding of the connection between species-specific atmospheric eDNA and flowering phenology we will further elucidate the importance of species in releasing grass pollen and allergens to the atmosphere and their individual role in grass pollen allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl A Frisk
- Department of Urban Greening and Vegetation Ecology, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Ås, Norway.
| | - Beverley Adams-Groom
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Worcester, United Kingdom
| | - Matt Smith
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Worcester, United Kingdom
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7
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Campbell BC, Van Haeften S, Massel K, Milic A, Al Kouba J, Addison-Smith B, Gilding EK, Beggs PJ, Davies JM. Metabarcoding airborne pollen from subtropical and temperate eastern Australia over multiple years reveals pollen aerobiome diversity and complexity. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 862:160585. [PMID: 36502990 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
eDNA metabarcoding is an emergent tool to inform aerobiome complexity, but few studies have applied this technology with real-world environmental pollen monitoring samples. Here we apply eDNA metabarcoding to assess seasonal and regional differences in the composition of airborne pollen from routine samples collected across successive years. Airborne pollen concentrations over two sampling periods were determined using a continuous flow volumetric impaction air sampler in sub-tropical (Mutdapilly and Rocklea) and temperate (Macquarie Park and Richmond), sites of Australia. eDNA metabarcoding was applied to daily pollen samples collected once per week using the rbcL amplicon. Composition and redundancy analysis of the sequence read counts were examined. The dominant pollen families were mostly consistent between consecutive years but there was some heterogeneity between sites and years for month of peak pollen release. Many more families were detected by eDNA than counted by light microscopy with 211 to 399 operational taxonomic units assigned to family per site from October to May. There were 216 unique and 119 taxa shared between subtropics (27°S) and temperate (33°S) latitudes, with, for example, Poaceae, Myrtaceae and Causurinaceae being shared, and Manihot, Vigna and Aristida being in subtropical, and Ceratodon and Cerastium being in temperate sites. Certain genera were observed within the same location and season over the two years; Chloris at Rocklea in autumn of 2017-18 (0.625, p ≤ 0.004) and 2018-19 (0.55, p ≤ 0.001), and Pinus and Plantago at Macquarie Park in summer of 2017-18 (0.58, p ≤ 0.001 and 0.53, p ≤ 0.003, respectively), and 2018-19 (0.8, p ≤ 0.003 and 0.8, p ≤ 0.003, respectively). eDNA metabarcoding is a powerful tool to survey the complexity of pollen aerobiology and distinguish spatial and temporal profiles of local pollen to a far deeper level than traditional counting methods. However, further research is required to optimise the metabarcode target to enable reliable detection of pollen to genus and species level.
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Affiliation(s)
- B C Campbell
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre Immunology and Infection Control and Centre for Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
| | - S Van Haeften
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre Immunology and Infection Control and Centre for Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
| | - K Massel
- Queensland Alliance of Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - A Milic
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre Immunology and Infection Control and Centre for Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
| | - J Al Kouba
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Australia
| | - B Addison-Smith
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre Immunology and Infection Control and Centre for Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
| | - E K Gilding
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - P J Beggs
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Australia
| | - J M Davies
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre Immunology and Infection Control and Centre for Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Australia.
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8
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Batra M, Dharmage SC, Newbigin E, Tang M, Abramson MJ, Erbas B, Vicendese D. Grass pollen exposure is associated with higher readmission rates for pediatric asthma. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2022; 33:e13880. [PMID: 36433858 DOI: 10.1111/pai.13880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pediatric asthma hospital readmission is a burden on the individual and costly for Australian hospitals. Grass pollen's role, a known trigger for asthma admissions, is unexamined in readmissions. We examined the association between grass pollen and pediatric asthma readmission. METHODS The Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset was used to identify all primary admissions with a principal diagnosis of asthma in children aged 2-18 years between 1997 and 2009. Readmissions were defined as subsequent admissions within 28 days of index admission discharge. Generalized additive models were used to assess associations between readmission, grass pollen season, and daily grass pollen counts, lagged and cumulative. Models were further stratified by sex and age group. RESULTS Mean daily readmission was higher during grass pollen season than other times of the year, incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.44 (95% CI, 1.03, 2.02) and for children aged 2-5 years, IRR 1.99 (1.26, 3.14). Same day grass pollen was nonlinearly associated with daily readmission for the 13-18 age group between 110 and 256 grains/m3 , p < .01. Lag 2 grass pollen was nonlinearly associated with daily readmissions overall (p = .03), boys (p = .01), and younger age groups 2-5 (p = .02) and 6-12 (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS Grass pollen exposure was associated with higher readmission rates for pediatric asthma. Treatment plans prior to discharge could be implemented to reduce the likelihood of readmission by younger children during the pollen season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehak Batra
- Department of Public Health, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Shyamali C Dharmage
- Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Edward Newbigin
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mimi Tang
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Murdoch Children's Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael J Abramson
- School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bircan Erbas
- Department of Public Health, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
| | - Don Vicendese
- Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,School of Engineering & Mathematical Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
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