Diversity, abundance and seasonality of the allergenic airborne pollen in Mar del Plata (Argentina)

Abstract

Background and aims: Pollen grains represent one of the main biological pollutants in the air causing allergies in the population. To know the biological quality of the air and how it varies throughout the year, is essential to implement therapeutic and preventive measures. It was proposed: 1) to determine the allergenic potential of the atmospheric pollen spectrum of the city of Mar del Plata, 2) to elaborate a pollen calendar with the most allergenic taxa, and 3) to establish pollen stations that allow to identify the periods with greater incidence of pollen, recognizing the main allergenic contributors.

M&M: Aerobiological monitoring was carried out for one year with a volumetric and continuous aerobiological sampler.

Results: The average daily concentrations totaled 12742 grains. Fifty pollen types were recorded; 30 were allergenic (21 arboreal and 9 herbaceous). The taxa with a moderate or high allergenicity were: Cupressaceae, Poaceae, Cedrus and Platanus with more than 5% per year, and Acer, Urticaceae, Moraceae, Myrtaceae, Populus, Ulmus and Fraxinus with values ​​between 2 and 5%. Also Ambrosia and Artemisia that are highly allergenic, all were included in a pollen calendar to visualize the duration, intensity and seasonality of each individual pollination period. Five main pollen stations were defined by the abundase of taxa with high levels of allergenicity: February-March, April, August, September-October, November-December.

Conclusions: Ninety-five percent of airborne pollen grains along the year are allergenic or potentially allergenic. Aerobiological monitoring continues to incorporate interannual variations.