Effect of land uses and wind direction on the contribution of local sources to airborne pollen

The interpretation of airborne pollen levels in cities based on the contribution of the surrounding flora and vegetation is a useful tool to estimate airborne allergen concentrations and, consequently, to determine the allergy risk for local residents. This study examined the pollen spectrum in a ci...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Science of the total environment 2015-12, Vol.538, p.672-682
Main Authors: Rojo, Jesús, Rapp, Ana, Lara, Beatriz, Fernández-González, Federico, Pérez-Badia, Rosa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aeropalynology
Air Pollutants - analysis
Allergens - analysis
Blowing
Cities - statistics & numerical data
Counting
Covering
Cupressaceae
Environmental Monitoring
Land use
Meteorological variables
Platanus
Poaceae
Pollen
Pollen spectrum
Populus
Quercus
Spain
Surface area
Urban green areas
Urticaceae
Vegetation
Wind
Wind direction
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The interpretation of airborne pollen levels in cities based on the contribution of the surrounding flora and vegetation is a useful tool to estimate airborne allergen concentrations and, consequently, to determine the allergy risk for local residents. This study examined the pollen spectrum in a city in central Spain (Guadalajara) and analysed the vegetation landscape and land uses within a radius of 20km in an attempt to identify and locate the origin of airborne pollen and to determine the effect of meteorological variables on pollen emission and dispersal. The results showed that local wind direction was largely responsible for changes in the concentrations of different airborne pollen types. The land uses contributing most to airborne pollen counts were urban green spaces, though only 0.1% of the total surface area studied, and broadleaved forest which covered 5% of the study area. These two types of land use together accounted for 70% of the airborne pollen. Crops, scrubland and pastureland, though covering 80% of the total surface area, contributed only 18.6% to the total pollen count, and this contribution mainly consisted of pollen from Olea and herbaceous plants, including Poaceae, Urticaceae and Chenopodiaceae–Amaranthaceae. Pollen from ornamental species were mainly associated with easterly (Platanus), southerly (Cupressaceae) and westerly (Cupressaceae and Platanus) winds from the areas where the city's largest parks and gardens are located. Quercus pollen was mostly transported by winds blowing in from holm-oak stands on the eastern edge of the city. The highest Populus pollen counts were associated with easterly and westerly winds blowing in from areas containing rivers and streams. The airborne pollen counts generally rose with increasing temperature, solar radiation and hours of sunlight, all of which favour pollen release. In contrast, pollen counts declined with increased relative humidity and rainfall, which hinder airborne pollen transport. [Display omitted] •We identified the major sources of urban airborne pollen from maps of land uses.•Pollen spectrum was governed by the location of pollen sources and wind direction.•The flora of parks and gardens had a marked impact on airborne pollen level.•Our findings enabled to recognize the major sources of allergenic pollen.
ISSN:0048-9697
1879-1026
DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.08.074