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Vélez-Pereira AM, De Linares C, Belmonte J. Aerobiological modelling II: A review of long-range transport models. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 845:157351. [PMID: 35842165 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157351] [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: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The long-range atmospheric transport models of pollen and fungal spores require four modules for their development: (i) Meteorological module: which contain the meteorological model, and it can be coupled to transport model with the same output configuration (spatio-temporal resolution), or uncoupled does not necessarily have the same output parameters. (ii) Emission module: settles the mass fluxes of bioaerosol, it can be done with a complex parameterization integrating phenological models and meteorological factors or by a simple emission factor. (iii) Sources of emission module, specifically refers to forestry/agronomy maps or, in the case of herbs and fungi, to potential geographical areas of emission. Obtaining the highest possible resolution in these maps allows establishing greater reliability in the modelling. (iv) Atmospheric transport module, with its respective established output parameters. The review and subsequent analysis presented in this article, were performed on published electronic scientific articles from 1998 to 2016. Of a total of 101 models applied found in 64 articles, 33 % performed forward modelling (using 15 different models) and 67 % made backward modelling (with three different models). The 88 % of the cases were applied to pollen (13 taxa) and 12 % to fungal spores (3 taxa). Regarding the emission module, 22 % used parametrization (four different parameters) and 10 % emission factors. The most used transport model was HYSPLIT (59 %: 56 % backward and 3 % forward) following by SILAM 10 % (all forward). Main conclusions were that the models of long-range transport of pollen and fungal spores had high technical-scientific requirements to development and that the major limitations were the establishment of the flow and the source of the emission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés M Vélez-Pereira
- Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile; Laboratorio de Investigaciones Medioambientales de Zonas Áridas, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile.
| | | | - Jordina Belmonte
- Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, (ICTA-UAB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Department of Animal Biology, Plant Biology and Ecology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
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2
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Ren X, Cai T, Mi Z, Bielory L, Nolte CG, Georgopoulos PG. Modeling past and future spatiotemporal distributions of airborne allergenic pollen across the contiguous United States. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2022; 3:959594. [PMID: 36389037 PMCID: PMC9640548 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2022.959594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposures to airborne allergenic pollen have been increasing under the influence of changing climate. A modeling system incorporating pollen emissions and atmospheric transport and fate processes has been developed and applied to simulate spatiotemporal distributions of two major aeroallergens, oak and ragweed pollens, across the contiguous United States (CONUS) for both historical (year 2004) and future (year 2047) conditions. The transport and fate of pollen presented here is simulated using our adapted version of the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model. Model performance was evaluated using observed pollen counts at monitor stations across the CONUS for 2004. Our analysis shows that there is encouraging consistency between observed seasonal mean concentrations and corresponding simulated seasonal mean concentrations (oak: Pearson = 0.35, ragweed: Pearson = 0.40), and that the model was able to capture the statistical patterns of observed pollen concentration distributions in 2004 for most of the pollen monitoring stations. Simulation of pollen levels for a future year (2047) considered conditions corresponding to the RCP8.5 scenario. Modeling results show substantial regional variability both in the magnitude and directionality of changes in pollen metrics. Ragweed pollen season is estimated to start earlier and last longer for all nine climate regions of the CONUS, with increasing average pollen concentrations in most regions. The timing and magnitude of oak pollen season vary across the nine climate regions, with the largest increases in pollen concentrations expected in the Northeast region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Ren
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Ting Cai
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Zhongyuan Mi
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Leonard Bielory
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Christopher G. Nolte
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Panos G. Georgopoulos
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- Correspondence: Panos G. Georgopoulos
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3
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Addison-Smith B, Milic A, Dwarakanath D, Simunovic M, Van Haeften S, Timbrell V, Davies JM. Medium-Term Increases in Ambient Grass Pollen Between 1994-1999 and 2016-2020 in a Subtropical Climate Zone. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2022; 2:705313. [PMID: 35387005 PMCID: PMC8974679 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2021.705313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Grass pollen is the major outdoor trigger of allergic respiratory diseases. Climate change is influencing pollen seasonality in Northern Hemisphere temperate regions, but many aspects of the effects on grass pollen remain unclear. Carbon dioxide and temperature rises could increase the distribution of subtropical grasses, however, medium term shifts in grass pollen in subtropical climates have not yet been analysed. This study investigates changes in grass pollen aerobiology in a subtropical city of Brisbane, Australia, between the two available monitoring periods, 1994-1999 and 2016-2020. Potential drivers of pollen change were examined including weather and satellite-derived vegetation indicators. The magnitude of the seasonal pollen index for grass showed almost a three-fold increase for 2016-2020 over 1994-1999. The number and proportion of high and extreme grass pollen days in the recent period increased compared to earlier monitoring. Statistically significant changes were also identified for distributions of CO2, satellite-derived seasonal vegetation health indices, and daily maximum temperatures, but not for minimum temperatures, daily rainfall, or seasonal fraction of green groundcover. Quarterly grass pollen levels were correlated with corresponding vegetation health indices, and with green groundcover fraction, suggesting that seasonal-scale plant health was higher in the latter period. The magnitude of grass pollen exposure in the subtropical region of Brisbane has increased markedly in the recent past, posing an increased environmental health threat. This study suggests the need for continuous pollen monitoring to track and respond to the possible effects of climate change on grass pollen loads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth Addison-Smith
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andelija Milic
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Divya Dwarakanath
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Marko Simunovic
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Shanice Van Haeften
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Victoria Timbrell
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Janet M Davies
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Office of Research, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Zhang Y, Steiner AL. Projected climate-driven changes in pollen emission season length and magnitude over the continental United States. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1234. [PMID: 35292649 PMCID: PMC8924258 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28764-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Atmospheric conditions affect the release of anemophilous pollen, and the timing and magnitude will be altered by climate change. As simulated with a pollen emission model and future climate data, warmer end-of-century temperatures (4–6 K) shift the start of spring emissions 10–40 days earlier and summer/fall weeds and grasses 5–15 days later and lengthen the season duration. Phenological shifts depend on the temperature response of individual taxa, with convergence in some regions and divergence in others. Temperature and precipitation alter daily pollen emission maxima by −35 to 40% and increase the annual total pollen emission by 16–40% due to changes in phenology and temperature-driven pollen production. Increasing atmospheric CO2 may increase pollen production, and doubling production in conjunction with climate increases end-of-century emissions up to 200%. Land cover change modifies the distribution of pollen emitters, yet the effects are relatively small (<10%) compared to climate or CO2. These simulations indicate that increasing pollen and longer seasons will increase the likelihood of seasonal allergies. Atmospheric conditions affect the release of anemophilous pollen. Zhang et al. use a pollen emission model together with future climate data to simulate changes in pollen emission. The study shows that climate change driven pollen increase and seasonal changes may increase seasonal allergies
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxiao Zhang
- Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Allison L Steiner
- Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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5
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Comprehensive Study on Key Pollen Allergens. JOURNAL OF PURE AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.22207/jpam.16.1.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pollens are typically the primary reason for seasonal hypersensitivity caused in many people that are released by a hundred different species of plants for fertilization. Not all pollens are the same or have the same effect on human beings, there are those worse than others. The human body works out on a defence mechanism by creating certain reactions against those offensive pollens as a response by the immune system. The allergic reactions include sneezing, coughing, wheezing, itching, red-watery swelled eyes, runny nose, inflammation in the nasal passage frequently leading to rhinitis, asthma, skin irritation, and other respiratory disorders. This study is intended to acquire knowledge about a few plants with high allergenic properties along with their major allergens. It is evident that the pollination of the plants varies from season to season as it depends on various factors such as species, weather, and geographical location. Understanding these high allergenic plants with respect to their varying factors and cross-reacting properties is the purpose of this study. It is an effort to obtain deeper insights into these common pollen offenders.
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Suanno C, Aloisi I, Fernández-González D, Del Duca S. Pollen forecasting and its relevance in pollen allergen avoidance. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 200:111150. [PMID: 33894233 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Pollinosis and allergic asthma are respiratory diseases of global relevance, heavily affecting the quality of life of allergic subjects. Since there is not a decisive cure yet, pollen allergic subjects need to avoid exposure to high pollen allergens concentrations. For this purpose, pollen forecasting is an essential tool that needs to be reliable and easily accessible. While forecasting methods are rapidly evolving towards more complex statistical and physical models, the use of simple and traditional methods is still preferred in routine predictions. In this review, we summarise and explain the main parameters considered when forecasting pollen, and classify the different forecasting methods in two groups: observation-based and process-based. Finally, we compare these approaches based on their usefulness to allergic patients, and discuss possible future developments of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Suanno
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 42, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Iris Aloisi
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 42, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Delia Fernández-González
- Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, ISAC-CNR, Via Piero Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy; Department Biodiversity and Environmental Management, University of León, 24071, Campus Vegazana, S/n, 24007, León, Spain
| | - Stefano Del Duca
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 42, 40126, Bologna, Italy
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Abstract
Human-caused climate change could impact respiratory health, including asthma and allergies, through temperature-driven increases in airborne pollen, but the long-term continental pollen trends and role of climate change in pollen patterns are not well-understood. We measure pollen trends across North America from 1990 to 2018 and find increases in pollen concentrations and longer pollen seasons. We use an ensemble of climate models to test the role of climate change and find that it is the dominant driver of changes in pollen season length and a significant contributor to increasing pollen concentrations. Our results indicate that human-caused climate change has already worsened North American pollen seasons, and climate-driven pollen trends are likely to further exacerbate respiratory health impacts in coming decades. Airborne pollen has major respiratory health impacts and anthropogenic climate change may increase pollen concentrations and extend pollen seasons. While greenhouse and field studies indicate that pollen concentrations are correlated with temperature, a formal detection and attribution of the role of anthropogenic climate change in continental pollen seasons is urgently needed. Here, we use long-term pollen data from 60 North American stations from 1990 to 2018, spanning 821 site-years of data, and Earth system model simulations to quantify the role of human-caused climate change in continental patterns in pollen concentrations. We find widespread advances and lengthening of pollen seasons (+20 d) and increases in pollen concentrations (+21%) across North America, which are strongly coupled to observed warming. Human forcing of the climate system contributed ∼50% (interquartile range: 19–84%) of the trend in pollen seasons and ∼8% (4–14%) of the trend in pollen concentrations. Our results reveal that anthropogenic climate change has already exacerbated pollen seasons in the past three decades with attendant deleterious effects on respiratory health.
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8
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Ravindra K, Goyal A, Mor S. Does airborne pollen influence COVID-19 outbreak? SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY 2021; 70:102887. [PMID: 33816082 PMCID: PMC7999829 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2021.102887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The fast spread of SARS-CoV-2 presented a worldwide challenge to public health, economy, and educational system, affecting wellbeing of human society. With high transmission rates, there are increasing evidences of COVID-19 spread via bioaerosols from an infected person. The current review was conducted to examine airborne pollen impact on COVID-19 transmission and to identify the major gaps for post-pandemic research. The study used all key terms to identify revenant literature and observation were collated for the current research. Based on existing literature, there is a potential association between pollen bioaerosols and COVID-19. There are few studies focusing the impact of airborne pollen on SARS-CoV-2, which could be useful to advance future research. Allergic rhinitis and asthma patients were found to have pre-modified immune activation, which could help to provide protection against COVID-19. However, does airborne pollen acts as a potent carrier for SARS-CoV-2 transport, dispersal and its proliferation still require multidisciplinary research. Further, a clear conclusion cannot be drawn due to limited evidence and hence more research is needed to show how pollen bioaerosols could affect virus survivals. The small but growing literature review focuses on searching for every possible answer to provide additional security layers to overcome near future corona-like infectious diseases.
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Key Words
- AAAAI, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
- ACE-2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2
- ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome
- Airborne pollen
- Allergic rhinitis
- Asthma
- Bioaerosols
- CCDC, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
- CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- CESM, Community Earth System Model
- CMAQ, Community Multiscale Air Quality
- COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases
- COVID-19
- ERS, European Respiratory Society
- FLI, flu-like illnesses
- GINA, Global Initiative for Asthma
- H1N1, Influenza A virus subtype H1N1
- H5N1, avian influenza virus
- IgE, Immunoglobulin E
- LDT, long-distance transport
- MERS, Middle East respiratory syndrome
- NHC, National Health Commission
- RSV, Respiratory Syncytial Virus infection
- SARS-CoV-2, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2
- STaMPS, Simulator of Timing and Magnitude of Pollen Season
- Virus
- WAO, World Allergy Organisation
- WHO, World Health Organization
- WRF, Weather Research Forecasting
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaiwal Ravindra
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Akshi Goyal
- Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Suman Mor
- Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
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9
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Robichaud A, Comtois P. Numerical modelling of birch pollen dispersion in Canada. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 194:110554. [PMID: 33279490 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110554] [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: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Simulating allergenic tree pollen is important to protect sensitive population and to support bioaerosols monitoring effort. Using the regional air quality model GEM-MACH, a simulation was conducted adopting two new main hypotheses: 1) the use of vertical correlation concept to force the vertical dispersion (a method normally used in tracer data assimilation) and, 2) the use of a puff instead of a continuous pollen release. The simulation was compared with pollen observations in Montreal and with the corresponding statistical forecasts (issued daily by the Weather Network) at several locations in the province of Quebec and elsewhere. The comparison with the simulation was found satisfactory (outperform forecasts based on persistence or pollen calendar and is also superior to numerical simulation of tree pollen done elsewhere in North America). Simulation shows that, for the 2012 pollen season, the majority (88%) of the Betula pollen measured in Montreal originated from the Laurentides region. Another result of scientific importance obtained here is that Betula pollen episodes (observed or simulated birch pollen) in Montreal occur only when the average daily temperature is in the range of 10° to 18 °C. This research is considered as a first step in forecasting bioaerosols in Canada within an air quality model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Robichaud
- Environnement and Climate Change Canada, 2121 Trans-Canada, Dorval, H9P 1J3, Canada.
| | - Paul Comtois
- Department of Geography, Université de Montréal, 1375 Avenue Thérèse-Lavoie-Roux, Montréal, H2V 0B3, Canada.
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10
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Banchi E, Ametrano CG, Tordoni E, Stanković D, Ongaro S, Tretiach M, Pallavicini A, Muggia L. Environmental DNA assessment of airborne plant and fungal seasonal diversity. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 738:140249. [PMID: 32806340 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding and metagenomics analyses can improve taxonomic resolution in biodiversity studies. Only recently, these techniques have been applied in aerobiology, to target bacteria, fungi and plants in airborne samples. Here, we present a nine-month aerobiological study applying eDNA metabarcoding in which we analyzed simultaneously airborne diversity and variation of fungi and plants across five locations in North and Central Italy. We correlated species composition with the ecological characteristics of the sites and the seasons. The most abundant taxa among all sites and seasons were the fungal genera Cladosporium, Alternaria, and Epicoccum and the plant genera Brassica, Corylus, Cupressus and Linum, the latter being much more variable among sites. PERMANOVA and indicator species analyses showed that the plant diversity from air samples is significantly correlated with seasons, while that of fungi varied according to the interaction between seasons and sites. The results consolidate the performance of a new eDNA metabarcoding pipeline for the simultaneous amplification and analysis of airborne plant and fungal particles. They also highlight the promising complementarity of this approach with more traditional biomonitoring frameworks and routine reports of air quality provided by environmental agencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Banchi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via Giorgieri 10, I-34127 Trieste, Italy; National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS, via Piccard 54, I-34151 Trieste, Italy
| | - Claudio G Ametrano
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via Giorgieri 10, I-34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Enrico Tordoni
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via Giorgieri 10, I-34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - David Stanković
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via Giorgieri 10, I-34127 Trieste, Italy; Marine Biology Station, National Institute of Biology, Fornače 41, SLO-6330 Piran, Slovenia
| | - Silvia Ongaro
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via Giorgieri 10, I-34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Mauro Tretiach
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via Giorgieri 10, I-34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Alberto Pallavicini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via Giorgieri 10, I-34127 Trieste, Italy; National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS, via Piccard 54, I-34151 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Lucia Muggia
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via Giorgieri 10, I-34127 Trieste, Italy.
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Robichaud A. An overview of selected emerging outdoor airborne pollutants and air quality issues: The need to reduce uncertainty about environmental and human impacts. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2020; 70:341-378. [PMID: 31994992 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2020.1723738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
According to the literature, it is estimated that outdoor air pollution is responsible for the premature death in a range from 3.7 to 8.9 million persons on an annual basis across the world. Although there is uncertainty on this figure, outdoor air pollution represents one of the greatest global risks to human health. In North America, the rapid evolution of technologies (e.g., nanotechnology, unconventional oil and gas rapid development, higher demand for fertilizers in agriculture) and growing demand for ground, marine and air transportation may result in significant increases of emissions of pollutants that have not been carefully studied so far. As a result, these atmospheric pollutants insufficiently addressed by science in Canada and elsewhere are becoming a growing issue with likely human and environmental impacts in the near future. Here, an emerging pollutant is defined as one that meets the following criteria: 1) potential or demonstrated risk for humans or the environment, 2) absence of Canada-wide national standard, 3) insufficient routine monitoring, 4) yearly emissions greater than one ton in Canada, 5) insufficient data concerning significant sources, fate, and detection limit, and 6) insufficiently addressed by epidemiological studies. A new methodology to rank emerging pollutants is proposed here based on weighting multiple criteria. Some selected emerging issues are also discussed here and include the growing concern of ultrafine or nanoparticles, growing ammonia emissions (due to rapid expansion of the agriculture), increased methane/ethane/propane emissions (due to the expanding hydraulic fracturing in the oil and gas sector) and the growing transportation sector. Finally, the interaction between biological and anthropogenic pollution has been found to be a double threat for public health. Here, a multidisciplinary and critical overview of selected emerging pollutants and related critical issues is presented with a focus in Canada.Implications: This overview paper provides a selection methodology for emerging pollutants in the atmospheric environment. It also provides a critical discussion of some related issues. The ultimate objective is to inform about the need to 1) address emerging issues through adequate surface monitoring and modeling in order to inform the development of regulations, 2) reduce uncertainties by geographically mapping emerging pollutants (e.g., through data fusion, data assimilation of observations into air quality models) which can improve the scientific support of epidemiological studies and policies. This review also highlights some of the difficulties with the management of these emerging pollutants, and the need for an integrated approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Robichaud
- Air Quality Modelling and Integration Section, Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Dorval, Quebec
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12
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Litalien A, Zeeb B. Curing the earth: A review of anthropogenic soil salinization and plant-based strategies for sustainable mitigation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 698:134235. [PMID: 31783465 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
At low concentrations salts are relatively benign, but anthropogenic activities can drive concentrations to levels that impact soil quality, microbial, plant, and animal life. Soil and freshwater salinization are growing issues worldwide that are difficult to manage with conventional treatments. In this review, salt tolerant plants known as halophytes are evaluated for their potential to phytoremediate salinized soils and prevent leaching of salts into surface and ground water. While most plants are sensitive to high concentrations of salt in their growth media, halophytic plants have developed mechanisms to tolerate and thrive in these environments. Some plants exclude salts at the roots, others sequester salts in their central vacuole, while others secrete salts through specialized salt glands on their leaf surfaces. The extraction of salts from soil by both plants that sequester or secrete salts are reviewed as well as implementation strategies that could drive economic feasibility. Further, phytoremediation of salinized soils is considered in the context of a changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amélie Litalien
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Canada.
| | - Barbara Zeeb
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Canada
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13
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Lidar-Derived Tree Crown Parameters: Are They New Variables Explaining Local Birch (Betula sp.) Pollen Concentrations? FORESTS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/f10121154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Birch trees are abundant in central and northern Europe and are dominant trees in broadleaved forests. Birches are pioneer trees that produce large quantities of allergenic pollen efficiently dispersed by wind. The pollen load level depends on the sizes and locations of pollen sources, which are important for pollen forecasting models; however, very limited work has been done on this topic in comparison to research on anthropogenic air pollutants. Therefore, we used highly accurate aerial laser scanning (Light Detection and Ranging—LiDAR) data to estimate the size and location of birch pollen sources in 3-dimensional space and to determine their influence on the pollen concentration in Poznań, Poland. LiDAR data were acquired in May 2012. LiDAR point clouds were clipped to birch individuals (mapped in 2012–2014 and in 2019), normalised, filtered, and individual tree crowns higher than 5 m were delineated. Then, the crown surface and volume were calculated and aggregated according to wind direction up to 2 km from the pollen trap. Consistent with LIDAR data, hourly airborne pollen measurements (performed using a Hirst-type, 7-day volumetric trap), wind speed and direction data were obtained in April 2012. We delineated 18,740 birch trees, with an average density of 14.9/0.01 km2, in the study area. The total birch crown surface in the 500–1500 m buffer from the pollen trap was significantly correlated with the pollen concentration aggregated by the wind direction (r = 0.728, p = 0.04). The individual tree crown delineation performed well (r2 ≥ 0.89), but overestimations were observed at high birch densities (> 30 trees/plot). We showed that trees outside forests substantially contribute to the total pollen pool. We suggest that including the vertical dimension and the trees outside the forest in pollen source maps have the potential to improve the quality of pollen forecasting models.
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14
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de Sousa TCM, Amancio F, Hacon SDS, Barcellos C. [Climate-sensitive diseases in Brazil and the world: systematic reviewEnfermedades sensibles al clima en Brasil y el mundo: revisión sistemática]. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2018; 42:e85. [PMID: 31093113 PMCID: PMC6385874 DOI: 10.26633/rpsp.2018.85] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To survey the literature regarding climate-sensitive diseases (CSD) and the impacts of climate changes on health. METHOD This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The Lilacs, SciELO, Scopus, and PubMed databases were searched in July 2017 without temporal restrictions for articles published in in Portuguese, English and Spanish. The following search strategy was used in all databases: (climate) AND (disease) AND (sensitive). RESULTS The systematic review included 106 articles, most of which focused on dengue, malaria, and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The most commonly studied climate variables were temperature and precipitation. The studies revealed a relationship between the incidence of certain diseases, especially cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, dengue, malaria, and arboviral diseases, and climate conditions in different regions of the world. This relationship was analyzed considering both past data on the incidence of diseases and climate variables and projections regarding the future incidence of diseases according to expected climate variations. A greater number of studies was performed by authors originating from developed countries. The world regions most often studied were China, the United States, Australia, and Brazil. CONCLUSIONS Despite the increase in the number of published articles on this theme, a greater number of climate and environmental variables must be studied, with expansion of studies to additional regions in the world.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Flavia Amancio
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública (ENSP), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brasil
| | - Sandra de Sousa Hacon
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública (ENSP), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brasil
| | - Christovam Barcellos
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Instituto de Comunicação e Informação Científica e Tecnológica em Saúde (ICICT), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brasil
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15
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Sicard M, Izquierdo R, Jorba O, Alarcón M, Belmonte J, Comerón A, De Linares C, Baldasano JM. Modelling of pollen dispersion in the atmosphere: evaluation with a continuous 1β+1δ lidar. EPJ WEB OF CONFERENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/201817605006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pollen allergenicity plays an important role on human health and wellness. It is thus of large public interest to increase our knowledge of pollen grain behavior in the atmosphere (source, emission, processes involved during their transport, etc.) at fine temporal and spatial scales. First simulations with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center NMMB/BSC-CTM model of Platanus and Pinus dispersion in the atmosphere were performed during a 5-day pollination event observed in Barcelona, Spain, between 27 – 31 March, 2015. The simulations are compared to vertical profiles measured with the continuous Barcelona Micro Pulse Lidar system. First results show that the vertical distribution is well reproduced by the model in shape, but not in intensity, the model largely underestimating in the afternoon. Guidelines are proposed to improve the dispersion of airborne pollen by numerical prediction models.
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16
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Reinmuth-Selzle K, Kampf CJ, Lucas K, Lang-Yona N, Fröhlich-Nowoisky J, Shiraiwa M, Lakey PSJ, Lai S, Liu F, Kunert AT, Ziegler K, Shen F, Sgarbanti R, Weber B, Bellinghausen I, Saloga J, Weller MG, Duschl A, Schuppan D, Pöschl U. Air Pollution and Climate Change Effects on Allergies in the Anthropocene: Abundance, Interaction, and Modification of Allergens and Adjuvants. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:4119-4141. [PMID: 28326768 PMCID: PMC5453620 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b04908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Revised: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution and climate change are potential drivers for the increasing burden of allergic diseases. The molecular mechanisms by which air pollutants and climate parameters may influence allergic diseases, however, are complex and elusive. This article provides an overview of physical, chemical and biological interactions between air pollution, climate change, allergens, adjuvants and the immune system, addressing how these interactions may promote the development of allergies. We reviewed and synthesized key findings from atmospheric, climate, and biomedical research. The current state of knowledge, open questions, and future research perspectives are outlined and discussed. The Anthropocene, as the present era of globally pervasive anthropogenic influence on planet Earth and, thus, on the human environment, is characterized by a strong increase of carbon dioxide, ozone, nitrogen oxides, and combustion- or traffic-related particulate matter in the atmosphere. These environmental factors can enhance the abundance and induce chemical modifications of allergens, increase oxidative stress in the human body, and skew the immune system toward allergic reactions. In particular, air pollutants can act as adjuvants and alter the immunogenicity of allergenic proteins, while climate change affects the atmospheric abundance and human exposure to bioaerosols and aeroallergens. To fully understand and effectively mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution and climate change on allergic diseases, several challenges remain to be resolved. Among these are the identification and quantification of immunochemical reaction pathways involving allergens and adjuvants under relevant environmental and physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christopher J. Kampf
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
- Institute
of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Johannes
Gutenberg University, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Kurt Lucas
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Naama Lang-Yona
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | | | - Manabu Shiraiwa
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Pascale S. J. Lakey
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Senchao Lai
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
- South
China University of Technology, School of
Environment and Energy, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Fobang Liu
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Anna T. Kunert
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Kira Ziegler
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Fangxia Shen
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Rossella Sgarbanti
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Bettina Weber
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Iris Bellinghausen
- Department
of Dermatology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, 55131, Germany
| | - Joachim Saloga
- Department
of Dermatology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, 55131, Germany
| | - Michael G. Weller
- Division
1.5 Protein Analysis, Federal Institute
for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Berlin, 12489, Germany
| | - Albert Duschl
- Department
of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Detlef Schuppan
- Institute
of Translational Immunology and Research Center for Immunotherapy,
Institute of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, 55131 Germany
- Division
of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Ulrich Pöschl
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
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17
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Zink K, Kaufmann P, Petitpierre B, Broennimann O, Guisan A, Gentilini E, Rotach MW. Numerical ragweed pollen forecasts using different source maps: a comparison for France. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2017; 61:23-33. [PMID: 27317399 PMCID: PMC5179590 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-016-1188-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2014] [Revised: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/08/2016] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
One of the key input parameters for numerical pollen forecasts is the distribution of pollen sources. Generally, three different methodologies exist to assemble such distribution maps: (1) plant inventories, (2) land use data in combination with annual pollen counts, and (3) ecological modeling. We have used six exemplary maps for all of these methodologies to study their applicability and usefulness in numerical pollen forecasts. The ragweed pollen season of 2012 in France has been simulated with the numerical weather prediction model COSMO-ART using each of the distribution maps in turn. The simulated pollen concentrations were statistically compared to measured values to derive a ranking of the maps with respect to their performance. Overall, approach (2) resulted in the best correspondence between observed and simulated pollen concentrations for the year 2012. It is shown that maps resulting from ecological modeling that does not include a sophisticated estimation of the plant density have a very low predictive skill. For inventory maps and the maps based on land use data and pollen counts, the results depend very much on the observational site. The use of pollen counts to calibrate the map enhances the performance of the model considerably.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Zink
- Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss, 8044 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Pirmin Kaufmann
- Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss, 8044 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Blaise Petitpierre
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Broennimann
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Antoine Guisan
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Eros Gentilini
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mathias W. Rotach
- Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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18
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Malkiewicz M, Drzeniecka-Osiadacz A, Krynicka J. The dynamics of the Corylus, Alnus, and Betula pollen seasons in the context of climate change (SW Poland). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 573:740-750. [PMID: 27591524 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.08.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2016] [Revised: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/14/2016] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The changes in the main features of early spring tree or shrub pollen seasons are important due to the significant impact on the occurrence of pollen-related allergy symptoms. This study shows the results of pollen monitoring for a period of eleven years (2003-2013) using a Burkard volumetric spore trap. The main characteristics of the hazel, alder, and birch pollination season were studied in Wrocław (SW Poland). The statistical analyses do not show a significant trend of annual total pollen count or shift in timing of the pollen season in the period of analysis. The research confirms a great impact (at the statistically significant level of 0.05) of the heat resources on pollination season (the value of the correlation coefficient ranges from -0.63 up to -0.87). Meteorological variables (e.g. sum of temperature for selected period) were compiled to 5-year running means to examine trends. Changes in the pollination period features due to climate change including both timing and intensity of pollen productivity, would have important consequences for allergy sufferers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Justyna Krynicka
- Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, University of Wroclaw, Poland
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19
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Ríos B, Torres-Jardón R, Ramírez-Arriaga E, Martínez-Bernal A, Rosas I. Diurnal variations of airborne pollen concentration and the effect of ambient temperature in three sites of Mexico City. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2016; 60:771-787. [PMID: 26431700 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-015-1061-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2014] [Revised: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 08/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Pollen is an important cause of allergic respiratory ailments in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA). However, very little is known if ambient air temperature correlates with the early blooming of plants observed in other urban areas around the world. A research study was conducted during the dry season of 2012-2013 at three representative sites of the MCMA with different urban characteristics with the aim to understand the relationships between the profusion and diversity of pollen against temperature and other meteorological variables and degree of urbanization. Pollen samples were collected using a Hirst-type trap sampler in the sites: Merced (highly urbanized), Iztapalapa (medium-high urbanized) and Coyoacan (moderately urbanized). Urbanization levels were determined using a composite index based on population density, proportion of surface covered by construction and asphalt, and urban heat island intensity. A set of representative pollen sampling tapes were assayed under a light microscope at magnification of ×1,000 and converted to grains per cubic meter. The most representative pollen types found in the three sites were, regardless of urbanization levels were: Fraxinus, Cupressaceae/Taxodiaceae, Casuarina, Alnus, Myrtaceae, and Pinus. Total pollen concentration was greatest in the moderately urbanized area, although earlier blooming took place at the highly urbanized zone. Total pollen concentration in the medium-high urbanized site has the lowest because the green areas in this zone of MCMA are few. In a diurnal basis, the most abundant pollen types peaked near midday or in the afternoon evening at the three sites. A Spearman test showed a positive correlation among bihourly pollen concentrations, temperature and relative humidity in all sites, but wind speed just correlated in Iztapalapa and Coyoacan. The results obtained suggest that Urban Heat Island Intensity can disturb flowering periods and pollen concentrations, largely in the highly urbanized areas. A principal components analysis established that the concentrations of each pollen type differed across the urbanization gradients. Additionally, it was found that a large number of allergenic pollens are produced by ornamental trees, some only recently introduced by urban planners.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Ríos
- Centro de Ciencias de la Atmosfera, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - R Torres-Jardón
- Centro de Ciencias de la Atmosfera, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - A Martínez-Bernal
- Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana - Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - I Rosas
- Centro de Ciencias de la Atmosfera, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico
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20
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Rojo J, Orlandi F, Pérez-Badia R, Aguilera F, Ben Dhiab A, Bouziane H, Díaz de la Guardia C, Galán C, Gutiérrez-Bustillo AM, Moreno-Grau S, Msallem M, Trigo MM, Fornaciari M. Modeling olive pollen intensity in the Mediterranean region through analysis of emission sources. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 551-552:73-82. [PMID: 26874763 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Revised: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Aerobiological monitoring of Olea europaea L. is of great interest in the Mediterranean basin because olive pollen is one of the most represented pollen types of the airborne spectrum for the Mediterranean region, and olive pollen is considered one of the major cause of pollinosis in this region. The main aim of this study was to develop an airborne-pollen map based on the Pollen Index across a 4-year period (2008-2011), to provide a continuous geographic map for pollen intensity that will have practical applications from the agronomical and allergological points of view. For this purpose, the main predictor variable was an index based on the distribution and abundance of potential sources of pollen emission, including intrinsic information about the general atmospheric patterns of pollen dispersal. In addition, meteorological variables were included in the modeling, together with spatial interpolation, to allow the definition of a spatial model of the Pollen Index from the main olive cultivation areas in the Mediterranean region. The results show marked differences with respect to the dispersal patterns associated to the altitudinal gradient. The findings indicate that areas located at an altitude above 300ma.s.l. receive greater amounts of olive pollen from shorter-distance pollen sources (maximum influence, 27km) with respect to areas lower than 300ma.s.l. (maximum influence, 59km).
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Affiliation(s)
- J Rojo
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Institute of Environmental Sciences, 45071 Toledo, Spain; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy.
| | - F Orlandi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - R Pérez-Badia
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Institute of Environmental Sciences, 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - F Aguilera
- Department of Animal Biology, Plant Biology and Ecology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain
| | - A Ben Dhiab
- Institut de l'Olivier, BP 208, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - H Bouziane
- Laboratory of Ecology, Biodiversity and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, University Abdelmalek Essaâdi, 2121 Tetouan, Morocco
| | | | - C Galán
- Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, University of Cordoba, 14071 Cordoba, Spain
| | | | - S Moreno-Grau
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic University of Cartagena, 30202 Cartagena, Spain
| | - M Msallem
- Institut de l'Olivier, BP 208, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - M M Trigo
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Malaga, 29080 Malaga, Spain
| | - M Fornaciari
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy
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Abstract
Airborne dispersal of microalgae has largely been a blind spot in environmental biological studies because of their low concentration in the atmosphere and the technical limitations in investigating microalgae from air samples. Recent studies show that airborne microalgae can survive air transportation and interact with the environment, possibly influencing their deposition rates. This minireview presents a summary of these studies and traces the possible route, step by step, from established ecosystems to new habitats through air transportation over a variety of geographic scales. Emission, transportation, deposition, and adaptation to atmospheric stress are discussed, as well as the consequences of their dispersal on health and the environment and state-of-the-art techniques to detect and model airborne microalga dispersal. More-detailed studies on the microalga atmospheric cycle, including, for instance, ice nucleation activity and transport simulations, are crucial for improving our understanding of microalga ecology, identifying microalga interactions with the environment, and preventing unwanted contamination events or invasions.
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22
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Davies JM, Beggs PJ, Medek DE, Newnham RM, Erbas B, Thibaudon M, Katelaris CH, Haberle SG, Newbigin EJ, Huete AR. Trans-disciplinary research in synthesis of grass pollen aerobiology and its importance for respiratory health in Australasia. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 534:85-96. [PMID: 25891684 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2014] [Revised: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 04/01/2015] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Grass pollen is a major trigger for allergic rhinitis and asthma, yet little is known about the timing and levels of human exposure to airborne grass pollen across Australasian urban environments. The relationships between environmental aeroallergen exposure and allergic respiratory disease bridge the fields of ecology, aerobiology, geospatial science and public health. The Australian Aerobiology Working Group comprised of experts in botany, palynology, biogeography, climate change science, plant genetics, biostatistics, ecology, pollen allergy, public and environmental health, and medicine, was established to systematically source, collate and analyse atmospheric pollen concentration data from 11 Australian and six New Zealand sites. Following two week-long workshops, post-workshop evaluations were conducted to reflect upon the utility of this analysis and synthesis approach to address complex multidisciplinary questions. This Working Group described i) a biogeographically dependent variation in airborne pollen diversity, ii) a latitudinal gradient in the timing, duration and number of peaks of the grass pollen season, and iii) the emergence of new methodologies based on trans-disciplinary synthesis of aerobiology and remote sensing data. Challenges included resolving methodological variations between pollen monitoring sites and temporal variations in pollen datasets. Other challenges included "marrying" ecosystem and health sciences and reconciling divergent expert opinion. The Australian Aerobiology Working Group facilitated knowledge transfer between diverse scientific disciplines, mentored students and early career scientists, and provided an uninterrupted collaborative opportunity to focus on a unifying problem globally. The Working Group provided a platform to optimise the value of large existing ecological datasets that have importance for human respiratory health and ecosystems research. Compilation of current knowledge of Australasian pollen aerobiology is a critical first step towards the management of exposure to pollen in patients with allergic disease and provides a basis from which the future impacts of climate change on pollen distribution can be assessed and monitored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet M Davies
- School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Paul J Beggs
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Danielle E Medek
- Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Rewi M Newnham
- School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
| | - Bircan Erbas
- School of Public Health and Human Biosciences, La Trobe University, VIC 3086, Australia.
| | - Michel Thibaudon
- European Aerobiology Society, Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique, 11 chemin de la Creuzille, 69690 Brussieu, France.
| | - Connstance H Katelaris
- Campbelltown Hospital, The School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Macarthur, NSW, Australia.
| | - Simon G Haberle
- Department of Archaeology and Natural History, College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
| | - Edward J Newbigin
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
| | - Alfredo R Huete
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
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23
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Ribeiro H, Guimarães F, Duque L, Noronha F, Abreu I. Characterisation of particulate matter on airborne pollen grains. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2015; 206:7-16. [PMID: 26141127 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2015.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Revised: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/13/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A characterization of the physical-chemical composition of the atmospheric PM adsorbed to airborne pollen was performed. Airborne pollen was sampled using a Hirst-type volumetric spore sampler and observed using a Field Emission Electron Probe Microanalyser for PM analysis. A secondary electron image was taken of each pollen grain and EDS spectra were obtained for individually adsorbed particles. All images were analysed and the size parameters of the particles adsorbed to pollen was determined. The measured particles' equivalent diameter varied between 0.1 and 25.8 μm, mostly in the fine fraction. The dominant particulates identified were Si-rich, Organic-rich, SO-rich, Metals & Oxides and Cl-rich. Significant daily differences were observed in the physical-chemical characteristics of particles adsorbed to the airborne pollen wall. These differences were correlated with weather parameters and atmospheric PM concentration. Airborne pollen has the ability to adsorb fine particles that may enhance its allergenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Ribeiro
- Earth Sciences Institute, Pole of the Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, R. Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Fernanda Guimarães
- Unit of Science and Mineral Technology, National Laboratory of Energy and Geology (LNEG), Rua da Amieira, Apartado 1089, 4466-901 S. Mamede de Infesta, Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Laura Duque
- Earth Sciences Institute, Pole of the Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, R. Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Fernando Noronha
- Earth Sciences Institute, Pole of the Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, R. Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal; Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, R. Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ilda Abreu
- Earth Sciences Institute, Pole of the Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, R. Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal; Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, R. Campo Alegre S/N, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
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24
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Lim YK, Kim KR, Cho C, Kim M, Choi HS, Han MJ, Oh I, Kim BJ. Development of a Oak Pollen Emission and Transport Modeling Framework in South Korea. ATMOSPHERE 2015. [DOI: 10.14191/atmos.2015.25.2.221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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25
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Zhang Y, Bielory L, Cai T, Mi Z, Georgopoulos P. Predicting Onset and Duration of Airborne Allergenic Pollen Season in the United States. ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT (OXFORD, ENGLAND : 1994) 2015; 103:297-306. [PMID: 25620875 PMCID: PMC4302955 DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Allergenic pollen is one of the main triggers of Allergic Airway Disease (AAD) affecting 5% to 30% of the population in industrialized countries. A modeling framework has been developed using correlation and collinearity analyses, simulated annealing, and stepwise regression based on nationwide observations of airborne pollen counts and climatic factors to predict the onsets and durations of allergenic pollen seasons of representative trees, weeds and grass in the contiguous United States. Main factors considered are monthly, seasonal and annual mean temperatures and accumulative precipitations, latitude, elevation, Growing Degree Day (GDD), Frost Free Day (FFD), Start Date (SD) and Season Length (SL) in the previous year. The estimated mean SD and SL for birch (Betula), oak (Quercus), ragweed (Ambrosia), mugwort (Artemisia) and grass (Poaceae) pollen season in 1994-2010 are mostly within 0 to 6 days of the corresponding observations for the majority of the National Allergy Bureau (NAB) monitoring stations across the contiguous US. The simulated spatially resolved maps for onset and duration of allergenic pollen season in the contiguous US are consistent with the long term observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhang
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Rutgers University, 170 Frelinghuysen Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Rutgers University – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers University, 98 Brett Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Leonard Bielory
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Rutgers University, 170 Frelinghuysen Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, 14 College Farm Rd., New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
- Department of Medicine, Section of Allergy and Immunology, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Ting Cai
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Rutgers University, 170 Frelinghuysen Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Rutgers University – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, 14 College Farm Rd., New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Zhongyuan Mi
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Rutgers University, 170 Frelinghuysen Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Rutgers University – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Panos Georgopoulos
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Rutgers University, 170 Frelinghuysen Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Rutgers University – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers University, 98 Brett Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, 14 College Farm Rd., New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
- Corresponding author: Panos Georgopoulos, Tel: 848-445-0159; Fax: 732-445-0915;
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