Abstract
Betula pollen is known to be an importantaeroallergen in Europe and the UK, with very largequantities of pollen released into the air at theheight of the season, making it the most abundant treepollen present in the UK spring air.There has been long term pollen monitoring in Cardiff,Derby and London but in recent years the number ofregional sites has increased.Seven sites throughout the UK have monitoredBetula pollen using Burkard samplers for the period1993–1997 and for this study regionaldifferences in Betula pollen and climate wereinvestigated.Detailed analysis revealed considerable variation inthe start dates, duration and quantityof Betula pollen for the seven UK sitesthroughout the five year period.These regional variations in Betula pollenduration and intensity of season, indicate theimportance of maintaining sites throughout the UK asan aid to clinicians, researchers and the generalpublic.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson T.B.: 1991, A model to predict the beginning of the pollen season. Grana 30, 269-275.
D'Amato G.: 1998, Pollens of Europe. In: Aerobiology of Clinical Allergy-The International Experience. AAAAI 54, Symposium 6602.
Driessen M.N.B.M., van Herpen R.M.A. and Smithuis L.O.M.J.: 1990, Prediction of the start of the grass pollen season for the southern part of the Netherlands. Grana 29, 79-86.
Emberlin J., Savage M. and Woodman R.: 1993, Annual variations in the concentrations of Betula pollen in the London area, 1961-1990. Grana 32, 359-363.
Emberlin J., Jones S., Bailey J., Caulton E., Corden J., Dubbels S., Evans J., McDonagh N., Millington W., Mullins J., Russel R. and Spencer T.: 1994, Variation in the start of the grass pollen seasons at selected sites in the United Kingdom 1987-1992. Grana 33, 94-99.
Emberlin J., Mullins J., Corden J., Millington W., Brooke M., Savage M. and Jones S.: 1997, The trend to earlier Birch pollen seasons in the UK: A biotic response to changes in weather conditions? Grana 36, 29-33.
HartM.L., Wentworth J.E., and Bailey J.P.: 1994, The effects of trap height and weather variables on recorded pollen concentration in Leicester. Grana 33, 100-103.
Hirst J.M.: 1952, An automatic volumetric spore trap. Annals of Applied Biology 39, 257-265.
Hjelmroos M.: 1992, Long-distance transport of Betula pollen grains and allergenic symptoms. Aerobiologia 8, 231-236.
Jäger S., Spieksma F.Th.M. and Nolard N.: 1991, Fluctuations and trends in airborne concentrations of some abundent pollen types, monitored at Vienna, Leiden and Brussels. Grana 30, 309-312.
Matthiesen F., Ipsen H. and Løwenstein H.: 1991, Pollen allergens. In: G. D'Amato, F.Th.M. Spieksma and S. Bonini (eds), Allergenic Pollen and Pollenosis in Europe. Blackwell Scientific Publications, pp. 36-44.
Nilsson S. and Persson S.: 1981, Tree pollen spectra in the Stockholm region (Sweden), 1973-1980. Grana 20, 179-182.
Oei H.D., Spieksma F.T.M. and Bruynzeel L.B.: 1986, Birch pollen asthma in The Netherlands. Allergy 41, 435-441.
Pehkonen E. and Rantio-Lehtimäki A.: 1995, Sensitivity of IgGELISA for detecting airborne pollen antigens of Betulaceae. Grana 34, 350-356.
Spieksma F.Th.M., Emberlin J.C., Hjelmroos M., Jäger S. and Leuschner R.M.: 1995, Atmospheric birch (Betula) pollen in Europe: Trends and fluctuations in annual quantities and the starting dates of the seasons. Grana 34, 51-57.