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Grass pollen season 2015 in Vienna (Austria), Berlin (Germany) and Turku (Finland): spatial and temporal variation in pollination of different grass species and their impact on pollen allergy sufferers
Authors: Kmenta M, Bastl K, Bergmann K-C, Hewings SJ, Kramer MF, Pätsi Sanna, Pessi Anna-Mari, Saarto Annika, Skinner MA, Werchan B, Werchan M, Zetter R, Berger U
Publishing place: Meeting of the European-Academy-of-Allergy-and-Clinical-Immunology
Publication year: 2016
Journal: Allergy
Article number: 449
Series title: ALLERGY
Volume: 71
First page : 217
Last page: 217
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/all.12972
Abstract
Background: Grasses are one of the largestplant families with nearly ubiquitous distribution. Moreover, grasses are the most important aeroallergens worldwide withsensitization rates up to 30%. The grasspollen season is not homogenous and thusmore than one peak can occur during thepollen season, since it is composed of the flowering periods of many different grasses.Furthermore, different grass taxa are represented in different regions, allergenicityof grass pollen varies from species to species and sensitization to allergens within a single grass species might differ individually.
Method: Several grasses, that are most prevalent in the respective areas of Austria (Vienna), Germany (Berlin) and Finland (Turku) were included in this study and evaluated by use of phenology, pollen monitoring and symptom data. Phenological observations were performed at various locations in the respective cities and compared with local pollen measurements as well as to data entries from the Patient's Hayfever Diary (PHD; www.pollendiary.com), including exclusively symptom data from people suffering from allergic symptoms in the area of the respective cities andsurroundings.Results: Preliminary results indicate that inall three European observation sites Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and fescue grasses (Festuca sp.) are important contributors in the grass pollen season. In Berlin (Germany) and Vienna (Austria) the flowering of orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) and false-oat grass (Arrhenatherum elatius)indicate a greater importance whereas in Turku (Finland) a broader spectrum of varying grass species contributed to the main grass pollen season. Thus, depending on the locality different grass species showregional distinctions and unique grass compositions.Conclusion: This study represents an unique approach combining phenological observations, pollen monitoring and symptom data in order to provide an insight into the contribution of various grass species in different European regions to the main grass pollen season and the impact on the allergic burden of grass pollen allergy sufferers.
Background: Grasses are one of the largestplant families with nearly ubiquitous distribution. Moreover, grasses are the most important aeroallergens worldwide withsensitization rates up to 30%. The grasspollen season is not homogenous and thusmore than one peak can occur during thepollen season, since it is composed of the flowering periods of many different grasses.Furthermore, different grass taxa are represented in different regions, allergenicityof grass pollen varies from species to species and sensitization to allergens within a single grass species might differ individually.
Method: Several grasses, that are most prevalent in the respective areas of Austria (Vienna), Germany (Berlin) and Finland (Turku) were included in this study and evaluated by use of phenology, pollen monitoring and symptom data. Phenological observations were performed at various locations in the respective cities and compared with local pollen measurements as well as to data entries from the Patient's Hayfever Diary (PHD; www.pollendiary.com), including exclusively symptom data from people suffering from allergic symptoms in the area of the respective cities andsurroundings.Results: Preliminary results indicate that inall three European observation sites Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and fescue grasses (Festuca sp.) are important contributors in the grass pollen season. In Berlin (Germany) and Vienna (Austria) the flowering of orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) and false-oat grass (Arrhenatherum elatius)indicate a greater importance whereas in Turku (Finland) a broader spectrum of varying grass species contributed to the main grass pollen season. Thus, depending on the locality different grass species showregional distinctions and unique grass compositions.Conclusion: This study represents an unique approach combining phenological observations, pollen monitoring and symptom data in order to provide an insight into the contribution of various grass species in different European regions to the main grass pollen season and the impact on the allergic burden of grass pollen allergy sufferers.
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