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Abstract:
Rationale:
Climate is known to have a significant effect on pollination periods of several plants in the northern hemisphere, e.g. Poaceae, which is the main cause of pollen allergy worldwide. This study analyzed whether the seasonal pattern of airborne Poaceae pollen has changed in Curitiba, Southern Brazil
Methods:
For bioaerosol sampling, a Hirst-Burkard-7-day volumetric spore trap was used. The pollens were stained and identified via light microscopy. Pollen counts were obtained for 222 days in 2018 and compared with those of a previous study performed with the Durham palinometer during 1981/82.
Results:
The Poaceae season started in August and went on to April ( ), corresponding to 90% of all counted Poaceae pollen. The highest daily concentration of Poaceae pollen occurred in September 2018 with a maximum of , and the lowest counts were observed between May to July ( ). However, the Poaceae season started in September in the year 1981, peaking in the middle of November, two months later than in 2018.
Conclusions:
There is strong evidence for a change in the annual cycle of airborne pollen in Curitiba when comparing Poaceae in 2018 to 1981/82, as the pollination period started and peaked earlier. However, the end of the Poaceae season in April seems to remain consistent. This shift may have been triggered by annual climatic variations, climate change, and/or urbanization, leading to seasonal and perennial symptoms in patients allergic to grass pollen.
