Study of the Airborne Pollen and Spores in the Atmosphere of Alexandria City, Egypt
Eman M Bassiouni1 and Wafaa K Taia2*
1Botany and Microbiology Department, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
2Faculty of Science, Department of Botany and Microbiology, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
*Corresponding Author: Wafaa K Taia, Faculty of Science, Department of Botany and Microbiology, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Received: May 25, 2021 ; Published: June 11, 2021
Abstract
This study deals with the investigation of both pollen grains and fungal spores trapped from the aerosol of Alexandria city. A Hirst type volumetric seven-day recording trap supplied by Burkrad Scientific (UK) was used and fixed at the University building in El-Shatby district 40m above ground. The results obtained throughout a full year, from May 2019 till April 2020, showed low annual pollen index of 378. The maximum records were in May and June 2019 as well as April 2020. The dominated species were Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae complex, Casuarina, Arecaceae, Pinus and Utrica representing 9.6%, 8.7%, 6.7%, 5.5% and 4.9% respectively. The fungal spores count was greater than the pollen grains as it showed 4176 annual spore index and dominated by Cladosporium, Alternaria and Aspergillus/Penicillium type (1216, 1133 and 319 respectively). While Beltrania, Tilletia, Pithomyces and Pleospora were the minimum counts. The maximum records were in June and July 2019, while the lowest counts were in January and February 2020. Correlation analyses of the results obtained with the climatic factors indicated that the pollen grains do not correlate with any climatic factors but depend on the phenology of the recorded species. The density of the fungal spores has positive correlation with both temperature and humidity. Pollen and spore approximate calendars for El-Shatby district in Alexandria city.
Keywords: Aeropalynology; Allergy; Fungal Spores; Pollen Grains; Pollinosis; Pollution
References
- D'Amato G., et al. “Urban air pollution and climate change as environmental risk factors of respiratory allergy: an update”. Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology2 (2010): 95-102.
- D’Amato G. “Effects of climatic changes and urban air pollution on the rising trends of respiratory allergy and asthma”. Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine1 (2011): 28-37.
- Zhang Q., et al. “Link between environmental air pollution and allergic asthma: East meets West”. Journal of Thoracic Disease1 (2015): 14-22.
- Leuschner R H., et al. “30 Years of study of grass pollen in Basel, Switzerland”. Aerobiologia 16 (2000): 381-391.
- García-Mozo H., et al. “Airborne pollen sampling in Toledo, Central Spain”. Aerobiologia 22 (2006): 55-66.
- Sedghy F., et al. “Interaction between air pollutants and pollen grains: The role on the rising trend in allergy”. Reports of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2 (2018): 219-224.
- Chehregani A., et al. “Increasing allergy potency of Zinnia pollen grains in polluted areas”. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 2 (2004): 267-272.
- Motta AC., et al. “Traffic-related air pollutants induce the release of allergen-containing cytoplasmic granules from grass pollen”. International Archives of Allergy and Immunology4 (2006): 294-298.
- Ghiani A., et al. “Ragweed pollen collected along high‐traffic roads shows a higher allergenicity than pollen sampled in vegetated areas”. Allergy7 (2012): 887-894.
- Yoo Y and Perzanowski MS. “Allergic sensitization and the environment: latest update”. Current Allergy and Asthma Reports10 (2014): 1-9.
- Thompson J L and Thompson J E. “The urban jungle and allergy”. Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America 3 (2003): 371-87.
- Taia WK., et al. “Study of the airborne pollen grains in Rosetta, Egypt”. International Journal of Advanced Research and Publications (IJARP) 3 (2019a): 122-129.
- Taia WK. “Pollen allergens of some road trees, shrubs and herbs in Alexandria, Egypt”. Journal of Biomedical Sciences (OAJBS) 5 (2020): 187-194.
- Crameri R., et al. “Fungal allergies: yet unsolved problem”. Chemical Immunology and Allergy 91 (2006): 121-133.
- Semik-Orzech A., et al. “The influence of sensitivity to fungal allergens on the development and course of allergic diseases of the respiratory tract”. Pneumonologia i alergologia polska 76 (2008): 29-36.
- Bogacka E and Jahnz-Rozyk K. “Allergy to Fungal antigens”. Polski Merkuriusz Lekarski 14 (2003): 381-384.
- Taia WK., et al. “Study of the airborne fungal spores in Rosetta, Egypt”. European Journal of Experimental Biology 1 (2019b): 4.
- Sathavahana C V., et al. “Role of Fungi (molds) in allergic airway disease-An Analysis in a South Indian Otolaryngology center”. Indian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 2 (2011): 67-78.
- O’Rourke M K. Chapter 23F. Medical palynology; in Jansonius, J. and McGregor, D. C. (ed.), Palynology; principles and applications. American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists Foundation 3 (1996): 945-955.
- Galán C., et al. “Spanish Aerobiological Network (REA): Management and Quality Manual”. Ed. Córdoba: Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Córdoba, Spain (2007).
- Spieksma F. “Regional European pollen calendars”. In G. D’Amato, F. Th. M. Spieksma, and S. Bonini (Eds.), Allergenic pollen and pollinosis in Europe. Oxford: Blackwell Sci. Publ (1991): 49-65.
- Saad S I. “Studies in atmospheric pollen grains and fungus spores at Alexandria. I. A daily census of pollen”. Egyptian Journal of Botany 1 (1958a): 53-61.
- Saad S I. “Studies in atmospheric pollen grains and fungus spores at Alexandria. II. Pollen and spores deposition in relation to weather conditions and diurnal variation in the incidence of pollen”. Egyptian Journal of Botany 1 (1958b): 63-79.
- El-Ghazaly., et al. “Study of aerobiology of Alexandria, Egypt”. Qatar University Science Journal 11 (1991): 161-182.
- Docampo S., et al. “Risk of pollen allergy in Nerja (southern Spain): a pollen calendar”. Aerobiologia 23 (2007): 189-199.
- Türe C and Böcük H. “Analysis of airborne pollen grains in Bilecik, Turkey”. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 151 (2009): 27-35.
- Agashe S N., et al. “Aerobiology of Casuarina pollen and its significance as a potential aeroallergen”. Aerobiologia 2 (1994): 123-128.
- Garcia JJ., et al. “Pollinosis due to Australian pine (Casuarina): An aerobiologic and clinical study in southern Spain”. Allergy1 (1997): 11-17.
- Burton PK and Katelaris CH. “Characteristics of the Casuarina pollen season in the Sydney District, NSW”. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 1 (2007): S102.
- Serhane H., et al. “Prevalence of skin sensitization to pollen of date palm in Marrakesh, Morocco”. Journal of Allergy (2017): 3.
- Damialis A., et al. “Estimating the abundance of airborne pollen and fungal spores at variable elevations using an aircraft: how high can they fly?” Scientific Reports 7 (2017): 44535.
- Pola J., et al. “Correlation between total annual atmospheric pollen counts for Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae and the prevalence of positive skin prick test to Chenopodium and/or Salsola pollen extracts: a multicenter study”. Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology 19 (2009): 64-79.
- De La Cruz., et al. “Analysis of Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae airborne pollen in Salamanca, Spain”. Turkish Journal of Botany 36 (2012): 336-343.
- Tiotiu A., et al. “Urtica dioica pollen allergy: Clinical, biological, and allergomics analysis”. Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 5 (2016): 527-534.
- Troutt C and Levetin E. “Correlation of spring spore concentrations and meteorological conditions in Tulsa, Oklahoma”. International Journal of Biometeorology 45 (2001): 64-74.
- Gioulekas D., et al. “Allergenic fungi spore records (15 years) and sensitization in patients with respiratory allergy in Thessaloniki-Greece”. Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology 14 (2004): 225-231.
- Gómez de Ana S., et al. “Seasonal distribution of Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Penicillium species isolated in homes of fungal allergic patients”. Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology6 (2006): 357-363.
- Damialis A and Gioulekas D. “Airborne allergenic fungal spores and meteorological factors in Greece: Forecasting possibilities”. Grana 2 (2006): 122-129.
- Menetrez, MY., et al. “An evaluation of the protein mass of particulate matter”. Atmospheric Environment 37 (2007): 8264-8274.
- Fukutomi Y and Taniguchi M. “Sensitization to fungal allergens: Resolved and unresolved issues”. Allergology International 64 (2015): 321-331.
- Sabo NC., et al. “Air Pollution by Pollen Grains of Anemophilous Species: Influence of Chemical and Meteorological Parameters”. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 226 (2015): 292.
- Beguin H and Nolard N. “Mould biodiversity in homes. II. Air and surface analysis of 130 dwellings”. Aerobiologia 10 (1994): 157-166.
- Andersson M., et al. “Natural exposure to Alternaria spores in indices allergic rhinitis symptoms in sensitized children”. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology 2 (2003): 100-105.
Citation