Extension of WRF-Chem for birch pollen modelling-a case study for Poland.

In recent years, allergies due to airborne pollen allergens have shown an increasing trend, along with the severity of allergic symptoms in most industrialized countries, while synergism with other common atmospheric pollutants has also been identified as affecting the overall quality of citizenly life. In this study, we propose the state-of-the-art WRF-Chem model, which is a complex Eulerian meteorological model integrated on-line with atmospheric chemistry. We used a combination of the WRF-Chem extended towards birch pollen, and the emission module based on heating degree days, which has not been tested before. The simulations were run for the moderate season in terms of birch pollen concentrations (year 2015) and high season (year 2016) over Central Europe, which were validated against 11 observational stations located in Poland. The results show that there is a big difference in the model's performance for the two modelled years. In general, the model overestimates birch pollen concentrations for the moderate season and highly underestimates birch pollen concentrations for the year 2016. The model was able to predict birch pollen concentrations for first allergy symptoms (above 20 pollen m-3) as well as for severe symptoms (above 90 pollen m-3) with probability of detection at 0.78 and 0.68 and success ratio at 0.75 and 0.57, respectively for the year 2015. However, the model failed to reproduce these parameters for the year 2016. The results indicate the potential role of correcting the total seasonal pollen emission in improving the model's performance, especially for specific years in terms of pollen productivity. The application of chemical transport models such as WRF-Chem for pollen modelling provides a great opportunity for simultaneous simulations of chemical air pollution and allergic pollen with one goal, which is a step forward for studying and understanding the co-exposure of these particles in the air.

Non-IgE Mediated Hypersensitivity to Food Products or Food Intolerance-Problems of Appropriate Diagnostics.

The diagnosis of food intolerance is tricky due to the different etiologies of adverse reactions. There is also a lack of clear rules for interpreting alternative tests used to diagnose these problems. The analyses of IgG4 concentration in serum or cytotoxic tests became the basis of elimination diets. However, it can result in nutritional deficiencies and loss of tolerance to eliminated foods. Our study aimed to assess the necessity of food elimination in four cases with food intolerance symptoms based on alternative diagnostic tests. Four patients without food allergies, who manifested diverse clinical symptoms after food, were presented due to the following factors: clinical history, diagnostic tests, elimination diet, and filaggrin gene (FLG) mutation. It was found that higher IgG4 levels against foods and higher cytotoxic test values are not clinically relevant in each of the studied individuals. They should not be decisive for the elimination of food products. The study of FLG-SNVs revealed the association of some clinical symptoms in patients with hypersensitivity to several food allergens and reported genetic variants in the FLG gene.

Near-ground effect of height on pollen exposure.

The effect of height on pollen concentration is not well documented and little is known about the near-ground vertical profile of airborne pollen. This is important as most measuring stations are on roofs, but patient exposure is at ground level. Our study used a big data approach to estimate the near-ground vertical profile of pollen concentrations based on a global study of paired stations located at different heights. We analyzed paired sampling stations located at different heights between 1.5 and 50 m above ground level (AGL). This provided pollen data from 59 Hirst-type volumetric traps from 25 different areas, mainly in Europe, but also covering North America and Australia, resulting in about 2,000,000 daily pollen concentrations analyzed. The daily ratio of the amounts of pollen from different heights per location was used, and the values of the lower station were divided by the higher station. The lower station of paired traps recorded more pollen than the higher trap. However, while the effect of height on pollen concentration was clear, it was also limited (average ratio 1.3, range 0.7-2.2). The standard deviation of the pollen ratio was highly variable when the lower station was located close to the ground level (below 10 m AGL). We show that pollen concentrations measured at >10 m are representative for background near-ground levels.

Masting in wind-pollinated trees: system-specific roles of weather and pollination dynamics in driving seed production.

Masting, the highly variable production of synchronized large seed crops, is a common reproductive strategy in plant populations. In wind-pollinated trees, flowering and pollination dynamics are hypothesized to provide the mechanistic link for the well-known relationship between weather and population-level seed production. Several hypotheses make predictions about the effect of weather on annual pollination success. The pollen coupling hypothesis predicts that weather and plant resources drive the flowering effort of trees, which directly translates into the size of seed crops through efficient pollination. In contrast, the pollination Moran effect hypothesis predicts that weather affects pollination efficiency, leading to occasional bumper crops. Furthermore, the recently formulated phenology synchrony hypothesis predicts that Moran effects can arise because of weather effects on flowering synchrony, which, in turn, drives pollination efficiency. We investigated the relationship between weather, airborne pollen, and seed production in common European trees, two oak species (Quercus petraea and Q. robur) and beech (Fagus sylvatica) with a 19-yr data set from three sites in Poland. Our results show that warm summers preceding flowering correlated with high pollen abundance and warm springs resulted in short pollen seasons (i.e., high flowering synchrony) for all three species. Pollen abundance was the best predictor for seed crops in beech, as predicted under pollen coupling. In oaks, short pollen seasons, rather than pollen abundance, correlated with large seed crops, providing support for the pollination Moran effect and phenology synchrony hypotheses. Fundamentally different mechanisms may therefore drive masting in species of the family Fagacae.

Co-occurrence of Artemisia and Ambrosia pollen seasons against the background of the synoptic situations in Poland.

The Asteraceae family is one of the largest families, comprising 67 genera and 264 species in Poland. However, only a few genera, including Artemisia and Ambrosia are potential allergenic sources. The aim of the study was to estimate how often and to what degree Artemisia and Ambrosia pollen seasons co-occur intensifying human health risk, and how synoptic situations influence frequency of days with high pollen concentrations of both taxa. Artemisia and Ambrosia pollen data were collected, using the volumetric method, at 8 sites in Poland. Daily concentrations of Artemisia pollen equal to 30 grains or more and Ambrosia pollen equal to 10 grains or more were accepted as high values. Concentrations of more than 10 pollen grains were defined as high in the case of Ambrosia because its allergenicity is considered higher. High concentrations were confronted with synoptic situations. Analysis was performed on the basis of two calendars on circulation types of atmosphere in Poland (Niedzwiedz, 2006, 2015). Co-occurrence of Artemisia and Ambrosia pollen seasons is being found most often, when Ambrosia pollen season starts in the first half of August. If it happens in the last 10 days of August high pollen concentrations of Artemisia and Ambrosia do not occur at the same days. At three sites (Sosnowiec, Rzeszów, Lublin) high Ambrosia pollen concentrations during the Artemisia pollen season appear more often than in other sites under question. The high Artemisia pollen concentrations occur, when continental or polar maritime old air masses inflow into Poland. The impact of air masses on high Ambrosia pollen concentrations depends on site localizations. It is likely, that in the south-eastern part of Poland high Ambrosia pollen concentrations result from the pollen transport from east-south-south-westerly directions and the local sources. Co-occurrence of both taxa pollen seasons depends on the air masses inflow and appears more often in a south-eastern part of Poland.

The long-range transport of Pinaceae pollen: an example in Kraków (southern Poland).

High Pinaceae pollen concentrations in the air and on the surface of puddles before the main pollen season started were observed in Kraków (southern Poland) in May 2013. The paper presents the results of detailed studies of the composition and source of the "yellow rain" in 2013, and as a comparison, the Pinaceae pollen concentrations and samples collected from the ground surface in 2014 were considered. The air samples were collected using the volumetric method (Hirst-type device), while pollen grains sampled from the ground surface were processed using a modified Erdtman acetolysis method. Finally, all samples were studied using a light microscope. In 2013, the period of higher Abies, Picea and Pinus pollen concentrations was observed from the 5 to 12 of May, earlier than the main pollen season occurred. The presence of rainfall on the 12 and 13 of May 2013 caused the pollen deposition on the ground surface, where the prevalence of Pinaceae pollen was found. The synoptic situation and the analysis of the back-trajectories and air mass advection at the beginning of May 2013 indicated that Pinaceae pollen grains could have been transported from Ukraine, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia. In contrast, Pinaceae pollen grains deposited on the ground surface as a "yellow" film in May 2014, originated from local sources.

A 10-year study of Alternaria and Cladosporium in two Polish cities (Szczecin and Cracow) and relationship with the meteorological parameters.

Alternaria and Cladosporium spores belong to the most frequent and allergenic particles in bioaerosol in the temperate climate. The investigation of Alternaria and Cladosporium spore concentrations was performed in two cities in Poland, Szczecin and Cracow, in 2004-2013. The meteorological parameters taken to assess their impact on fungal spores were average, maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity and average wind velocity. In order to reveal whether changes in dynamics of spore seasons are driven by meteorological conditions, ordination methods were applied. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to explore redundancy among the predictors (meteorological parameters). Prior to ordination analyses, the data were log(x)-transformed. Concentrations of Alternaria and Cladosporium spores were significantly higher in Szczecin comparing to Cracow, but it was also observed the decreasing trend in the spore concentrations in Szczecin. As regards temperature, it was higher in Cracow and was still increasing in the studied years. Relative humidity and wind velocity were significantly lower in Cracow. In Szczecin meteorological conditions did not explain changes in spore season characteristics (insignificant redundancy analysis models), while in Cracow's redundancy analysis models indicated that spore season parameters were in over 40 % determined by meteorological conditions, mainly air temperature and wind velocity. If they increase, the peak value, total number of spores and their average concentrations in a season will also increase.

Forecasting model of Corylus, Alnus, and Betula pollen concentration levels using spatiotemporal correlation properties of pollen count.

The aim of the study was to create and evaluate models for predicting high levels of daily pollen concentration of Corylus, Alnus, and Betula using a spatiotemporal correlation of pollen count. For each taxon, a high pollen count level was established according to the first allergy symptoms during exposure. The dataset was divided into a training set and a test set, using a stratified random split. For each taxon and city, the model was built using a random forest method. Corylus models performed poorly. However, the study revealed the possibility of predicting with substantial accuracy the occurrence of days with high pollen concentrations of Alnus and Betula using past pollen count data from monitoring sites. These results can be used for building (1) simpler models, which require data only from aerobiological monitoring sites, and (2) combined meteorological and aerobiological models for predicting high levels of pollen concentration.

[Exposure to alder, hazel and birch pollen and PM10 dust concentration in Krakow in 2010-2015].

PM10, one of the air pollution components has a significant effect on plant pollen by the deposition on the surface of pollen grains, morphological changes of pollen walls and interference in the structure of the allergenic proteins. The aim of the study was to verify whether and in what weather conditions the concentration of pollen of alder, hazel and birch coincides with the elevated level of PM10 in Kraków, in 2010-2015. In the days when the alder pollen concentration exceeded 95 PG/m3, causing severe inhalant allergy symptoms and the concentration of hazel pollen was >80 PG/m3 and the admissible level of PM10 was exceeded, the maximum air temperature ranged from 5.1 to 22.6oC, the days were dry (humidity <60%), without precipitation and mostly windless. High concentration of birch pollen and exceeded admissible level of PM10 concentration were found in more than 60% of the days in the city center. In 70.3% of the days in which the birch pollen concentration reached values that caused the symptoms of asthma (>155 PG/m3), the dust concentration was exceeded (>50µg/m3), and rainfall and wind speed of 1-3 m/s occurred. Symptoms in people allergic to trees pollen in Kraków can be exacerbated during periods when the standard limits of PM10 are exceeded. Such situations have occurred mostly in March (pollen of alder and hazel) and April (birch pollen), especially in the city center.

[Clinical symptoms of the allergic rhinitis and coexisting cross reactions in patients treated with the birch and/or grasses allergens against a background of the pollen exposure].

During specific immunotherapy (SIT) it is recommended to monitor the patient symptoms in relation to the exposure of allergen which the patient is treated. The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR) and cross reactivity in patients undergoing specific immunotherapy using pollen allergens (SIT) (birch and/or grasses) against the pollen exposure in 2014-2016. The study group, consisted of patients with pollen allergy, treated by SIT with birch and grasses allergens, who showed oral allergy symptoms. Patients of the control group were sensitive to birch and/or grasses allergens and they were not treated with SIT. The analyses were based on the results of questionnaires and patient symptom diaries. Timing of the pollen seasons of birch and grasses were similar, however the significantly higher concentration of birch pollen was found in 2014 and 2016, comparing to 2015. The strongest relationship between the pollen concentration and symptoms severity was revealed in the study group in patients desensitized by combined vaccine (birch/grasses), while in the control group, in patients sensitive to both taxa. In 35.3% of patients in the study group, a significant decrease in symptoms after foods was found, especially in patients desensitized with mixed vaccine (birch, grasses) after consumption of vegetables and in patients desensitized with grasses allergens after the fruits and nuts. SIT has a significant impact on the symptoms score reduction, which could be modified by the changeable seasonal pollen exposure.

[Squamous epithelium in the nasal cytology]. / Nablonek plaski w obrazie cytologicznym blony sluzowej nosa.

Nasal mucosa cytology is an additional examination useful to differentiate chronic rhinitis in allergological and laryngological diagnostics, including chronic sinusitis. The aim of the study was to estimate the cytological picture in a group of patients with the highest percentage of squamous epithelia, suggesting the atrophic rhinitis. The analysis was carried out on the basis of cytological results performed in 3055 patients diagnosed because of chronic rhinitis. Among these patients, in 31 individuals the higher percentage (30% - 76%) of squamous cells was found. In six patients, the clear predominance of squamous cells over ciliated and goblet cells (3:1) was reported. Only in three patients the increased percentage in eosinophils was stressed (3%, 5% and 9% respectively). No basic and metaplastic cells were observed in the studied cytograms. The squamous cells occurred probably as a result of normal mucosa damages during the different inflammatory changes, both allergic and non-allergic, the impact of toxic agents, irritants (including nasal drops). The higher percentage of squamous cells in the nasal cytogram could have explained the low effectiveness of local inflammatory treatment in these patients.

Poaceae pollen in the air depending on the thermal conditions.

The relationship between the meteorological elements, especially the thermal conditions and the Poaceae pollen appearance in the air, were analysed as a basis to construct a useful model predicting the grass season start. Poaceae pollen concentrations were monitored in 1991-2012 in Kraków using the volumetric method. Cumulative temperature and effective cumulative temperature significantly influenced the season start in this period. The strongest correlation was seen as the sum of mean daily temperature amplitudes from April 1 to April 14, with mean daily temperature>15 °C and effective cumulative temperature>3 °C during that period. The proposed model, based on multiple regression, explained 57% of variation of the Poaceae season starts in 1991-2010. When cumulative mean daily temperature increased by 10 °C, the season start was accelerated by 1 day. The input of the interaction between these two independent variables into the factor regression model caused the increase in goodness of model fitting. In 2011 the season started 5 days earlier in comparison with the predicted value, while in 2012 the season start was observed 2 days later compared to the predicted day. Depending on the value of mean daily temperature from March 18th to the 31st and the sum of mean daily temperature amplitudes from April 1st to the 14th, the grass pollen seasons were divided into five groups referring to the time of season start occurrence, whereby the early and moderate season starts were the most frequent in the studied period and they were especially related to mean daily temperature in the second half of March.

Predicting tree pollen season start dates using thermal conditions.

Thermal conditions at the beginning of the year determine the timing of pollen seasons of early flowering trees. The aims of this study were to quantify the relationship between the tree pollen season start dates and the thermal conditions just before the beginning of the season and to construct models predicting the start of the pollen season in a given year. The study was performed in Krakow (Southern Poland); the pollen data of Alnus, Corylus and Betula were obtained in 1991-2012 using a volumetric method. The relationship between the tree pollen season start, calculated by the cumulated pollen grain sum method, and a 5-day running means of maximum (for Alnus and Corylus) and mean (for Betula) daily temperature was found and used in the logistic regression models. The estimation of model parameters indicated their statistically significance for all studied taxa; the odds ratio was higher in models for Betula, comparing to Alnus and Corylus. The proposed model makes the accuracy of prediction in 83.58 % of cases for Alnus, in 84.29 % of cases for Corylus and in 90.41 % of cases for Betula. In years of model verification (2011 and 2012), the season start of Alnus and Corylus was predicted more precisely in 2011, while in case of Betula, the model predictions achieved 100 % of accuracy in both years. The correctness of prediction indicated that the data used for the model arrangement fitted the models well and stressed the high efficacy of model prediction estimated using the pollen data in 1991-2010.

[A three year survey of the practical application of pollen monitoring in specific allergen immunotherapy]. / Zastosowanie monitoringu pylkowego podczas swoistej immunoterapii alergenowej--trzy lata obserwacji.

Specific allergen immunotherapy should be modified according to sensitivity of the patient and the time interval between injections and seasonal allergen exposition. The aim of the study was to check the effectiveness of the multinomial logistic regression models predicting the pollen concentration during the pollen season in the immunotherapy trial in patients treated with grass and birch allergens. The study was performed in Krakow in 2011-2013. Models were validated for 2012 and 2013. The effectiveness of the total correct predictions slightly differed depending on the time series, in case of birch pollen the similar percentage of correct predictions was found in both study year, while in case of grass pollen, the predictions were more correct in 2012. A group of patients treated with grass and birch allergens filled in the diary cards during the pollen season. After the 2011 season 14 diary cards were analysed, while 18 and 19, in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Because of manifested symptoms, the injection dose was reduced during the season in 12 patients in 2011, in 9 patients in 2012 and in 6 patients in 2013. No visits were delayed because of medical indications. In some cases patients got the injection in time of the high pollen occurrence (2 cases, in 2011 and 2012). In 2013 in 10/17 patients the high pollen exposure was avoided thanks the information from pollen monitoring, in opposite to 1 and 8 patients in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Patients used antihistaminic drugs on request. The regional pollen monitoring data and satisfied co-operation with patients makes the possibility of closer control of the injection doses administration during immunotherapy in the pollen season.

[Oral allergy syndrome in patients with pollen allergy]. / Zespól alergii jamy ustnej u pacjentów z alergia pylkowa.

The symptoms of pollen allergy in the European population occur in a period of increased pollen precipitation, and take the form of allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis, bronchial asthma, contact urticaria, and food allergy. Diagnosis in addition to medical history, takes into account the positive results of skin tests and elevated allergen-specific IgE antibodies (specific IgE) in serum. These studies are considered to be objective diagnostic tests confirming the diagnosis of pollen allergy. Not in every case there is a correspondence of symptoms and results of diagnostic tests, which puts into question the accuracy of the diagnosis of pollen allergy. The aim of this study was to test the characteristics of patients with oral allergy syndrome on the background of all patients with pollen allergy and evaluation of the diagnostic value of history, skin tests and specific IgE levels in the diagnosis of patients with pollen allergy and oral allergy syndrome. A retrospective analysis of the cases of 85 patients with a diagnosis of pollen allergy and the 30 patients with OAS was performed. In our study the most common sensitizing allergen in patients with OAS was birch pollen, while patients showing no symptoms of OAS were equally sensitive to timothy and birch pollen. The main food responsible for the presence of the OAS in the mechanism of cross-allergy to pollen was an apple. Among patients with OAS we did not show significantly higher incidence of polyvalent allergies. It was shown, however, that there is a tendency that the maximum concentration of allergen-specific IgE causing clinically significant symptoms, ie in line with the pollen season, is higher in the OAS patients than in the absence of OAS. Further research is needed using new diagnostic methods, which would predict future symptoms after eating certain foods in particularly endangered patients with pollen allergy.

Eosinophilic reaction in nasal cytology in patients sensitive to perennial and seasonal allergens.

Nasal exfoliative cytology is a complementary tool in diagnostics of allergic (AR) and non-allergic (NAR) rhinitis. The aim of the study was to determine the usefulness of the nasal cytology in patients sensitive to common inhalant allergens with positive SPT(+) and negative SPT(-) (Skin Prick Tests) depending on the symptoms of intermittent and persistent rhinitis. The study was performed in a group of 285 patients treated in the Department of Allergology University Hospital in Krakow, suspected on AR in 2008-2010. The patients were made a smear test of inferior nasal concha. The samples were stained using the eosin-hematoxylin method and examined under a light microscope (1000x). Patients were divided into two groups: SPT(+) (144 patients) and SPT(-) (141 patients). Depending on the percentage of obtained eosinophils each group was divided into three subgroups: 0-2%, 3-20%, >20%. In the most percentage of patients with 3-20% of eosinophils in nasal cytology were found, in both studied groups (SPT)(+) and (SPT)(-), while the highest percentage of eosinophils (> 20%) was observed in the bigger group of patients with SPT(+), than with SPT(-). The number of patients with eosinophils > 20% in the SPT(+) group was higher in patients with persistent symptoms (NS differences), while in the SPT(-) group, the number of patients with intermittent symptoms in the subgroup > 20% of eosinophils statistically prevailed (p<0.001). The mean percentage of eosinophils in both groups was comparable, while the statistically significant differences were found considering the distinguished subgroups. In intermittent SPT(+) group the most sensitizing allergens were pollen grains (birch or grass pollen), while the patients with persistent AR symptoms were mainly sensitive the house dust mites. The mean percentage of eosinophils in an exfoliative cytology correlated significantly with allergic rhinitis symptoms and SPT results, the most evident relationship was found between higher level of eosinophils and the patients with confirmed AR diagnosis on the basis of positive SPT, manifesting the intermittent symptoms.

Air pollution in the places of Betula pendula growth and development changes the physicochemical properties and the main allergen content of its pollen.

Pollen allergy becomes an increasing problem for humans, especially in the regions, where the air pollution level increases due to the traffic and urbanization. These factors may also affect the physiological activity of plants, causing changes in pollen allergenicity. The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of air pollutants on the chemical composition of birch pollen and the secondary structures of the Bet v1 protein. The research was conducted in seven locations in Malopolska region, South of Poland of a different pollution level. We have found slight fluctuations in the values of parameters describing the photosynthetic light reactions, similar spectra of leaf reflectance and the negligible differences in the discrimination values of the δ13C carbon isotope were found. The obtained results show a minor effect of a degree of pollution on the physiological condition B. pendula specimen. On the other hand, mean Bet v1 concentration measured in pollen samples collected in Kraków was significantly higher than in less polluted places (p = .03886), while FT-Raman spectra showed the most distinct variations in the wavenumbers characteristic of proteins. Pollen collected at sites of the increased NOx and PM concentration, show the highest percentage values of potential aggregated forms and antiparallel ß-sheets in the expense of α-helix, presenting a substantial impact on chemical compounds of pollen, Bet v1 concentration and on formation of the secondary structure of proteins, what can influence their functions.

Co-exposure to highly allergenic airborne pollen and fungal spores in Europe.

The study is aimed at determining the potential spatiotemporal risk of the co-occurrence of airborne pollen and fungal spores high concentrations in different bio-climatic zones in Europe. Birch, grass, mugwort, ragweed, olive pollen and Alternaria and Cladosporium fungal spores were investigated at 16 sites in Europe, in 2005-2019. In Central and northern Europe, pollen and fungal spore seasons mainly overlap in June and July, while in South Europe, the highest pollen concentrations occur frequently outside of the spore seasons. In the coldest climate, no allergy thresholds were exceeded simultaneously by two spore or pollen taxa, while in the warmest climate most of the days with at least two pollen taxa exceeding threshold values were observed. The annual air temperature amplitude seems to be the main bioclimatic factor influencing the accumulation of days in which Alternaria and Cladosporium spores simultaneously exceed allergy thresholds. The phenomenon of co-occurrence of airborne allergen concentrations gets increasingly common in Europe and is proposed to be present on other continents, especially in temperate climate.

A temporally and spatially explicit, data-driven estimation of airborne ragweed pollen concentrations across Europe.

Ongoing and future climate change driven expansion of aeroallergen-producing plant species comprise a major human health problem across Europe and elsewhere. There is an urgent need to produce accurate, temporally dynamic maps at the continental level, especially in the context of climate uncertainty. This study aimed to restore missing daily ragweed pollen data sets for Europe, to produce phenological maps of ragweed pollen, resulting in the most complete and detailed high-resolution ragweed pollen concentration maps to date. To achieve this, we have developed two statistical procedures, a Gaussian method (GM) and deep learning (DL) for restoring missing daily ragweed pollen data sets, based on the plant's reproductive and growth (phenological, pollen production and frost-related) characteristics. DL model performances were consistently better for estimating seasonal pollen integrals than those of the GM approach. These are the first published modelled maps using altitude correction and flowering phenology to recover missing pollen information. We created a web page (http://euragweedpollen.gmf.u-szeged.hu/), including daily ragweed pollen concentration data sets of the stations examined and their restored daily data, allowing one to upload newly measured or recovered daily data. Generation of these maps provides a means to track pollen impacts in the context of climatic shifts, identify geographical regions with high pollen exposure, determine areas of future vulnerability, apply spatially-explicit mitigation measures and prioritize management interventions.

Survey of biological particles in the atmosphere of the Cracow center (southern Poland) in 2011. Preliminary study.

The seasonal concentrations of pollen and spores of selected fungi taxa in the area of the Main Square Market in Cracow, in 2011 were analysed using the volumetric method of sampling in order to compare these concentrations with results obtained in the continuous monitoring. The highest percentages of pollen in total pollen were noted for Urtica, Pinus and Poaceae. The fungal spore concentrations, with dominant contribution of Cladosporium spores, were relatively higher in comparison with pollen grains. The U Mann-Whitney test indicated that the differences between total pollen in both sites were not statistically significant for most of the taxa, on the contrary to fungal spores. The highest total pollen was reached in the second decade of May and the third decade of August in both study sites. The pollen and fungal spore season characteristics indicate similar pollen season duration for most taxa in both study sites, except at Rumex. Herb pollen seasons are clearly longer than tree pollen seasons and show periods of different concentrations. The statistically significant differences in pollen season dynamics were found for Plantago, Rumex and Urtica in both study sites. The period of high Alternaria spore concentrations coincided with high concentrations of Artemisia, however the time of high Cladosporium spore concentrations was related to relatively high concentrations of Poaceae and Urtica pollen.