Original scientific paper
Diurnal Variation in Airborne Pollen Concentrations of the Selected Taxa in Zagreb, Croatia
Ivan Toth
Renata Peternel
Lidija Srnec
Božo Vojniković
Abstract
The number of individuals allergic to plant pollen has recently been on a constant increase. The knowledge of diurnal
distribution and abundance of allergenic pollen types, their patterns and response to source position and weather is useful
to correlate hay fever symptoms with the presence of allergenic pollen in the atmosphere. The aim of this study was to
determine diurnal distribution of total airborne pollen, pollen of particular allergenic taxa, possible variation in diurnal
pollen distribution at measuring sites placed at different heights, and effect of some meteorological parameters on airborne
pollen concentrations. A 7-day Hirst-type volumetric pollen trap was used for pollen sampling. Qualitative and
quantitative pollen analysis was performed under a light microscope (magnification x400). Total pollen of all plant taxa
(Ambrosia sp., Betula sp., Cupressaceae, Urticaceae, Poaceae, Quercus sp., Fraxinus sp., Alnus sp., Corylus sp., Populus
sp., Pinus sp., Picea sp.) observed showed a regular diurnal distribution at both sampling sites in both study years, with
a rise in the pollen concentration recorded after 4.00 a.m. and 6.00 a.m., respectively. The peak pollen concentration occurred
between 12.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m., and the lowest diurnal pollen concentrations were recorded overnight. About
50% of the 24-h pollen concentration were released to the atmosphere between 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. The timing and
size of diurnal peaks were closely related to high temperature, low humidity and south-west maximum wind direction.
Keywords
pollen monitoring; volumetric method; allergenic pollen; diurnal pollen distribution; weather conditions
Hrčak ID:
72222
URI
Publication date:
25.9.2011.
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