Allergy to pollen grains from Amaranthaceae and Chenopodiaceae in Cordoba, Spain. Annual and daily variation of pollen concentration.

We have studied the annual and daily variation of pollen grains from Amaranthaceae and Chenopodiaceae for 3 consecutive years. Samples of pollen grains from both families, which make a stenopalynologic group, were collected by the volumetric method with the aid of a Burkard spore-trap. These pollen grains were found to occur in the atmosphere of the city of Córdoba virtually throughout the year, although their presence was continual only between April and October with maximum concentrations detected in the summer months. We have also studied the daily variation of pollen concentration, which peaked between 10 AM and 3 PM. In order to determine the incidence of pollinotic patients sensitive to pollen grains from Chenopodium, we reviewed 1000 clinical records available in the Allergy Unit and found 8.42% to be allergic. On evaluation of the time evolution of the symptoms we found that most patients continued to show them until September each year.

Variations of airborne winter pollen in southern Spain.

This work deals with the variation in the atmosphere of the airborne pollen produced by winter blooming plants and is aimed to establish correlations between the concentration of pollen grains in the atmosphere of Córdoba and meteorological parameters such as the temperature, humidity, rainfall, pressure, hours of sunlight and wind speed and direction. The work was conducted for two consecutive years (1981-82 and 1982-83). The sampling was carried out in Córdoba (Spain) with a BURKARD sporetrap. The data obtained in the aeropalinological study are correlated to the above-mentioned meterological parameters. Along the period investigated grains were found from Ulmus minor, Fraxinus sp., Populus sp., Alnus glutinosa and Cupressaceae, and less frequently, Artemisia sp., Pinaceae, Urticaceae, type Helianthus and Gramineae. Pollen grains from Cupressaceae were found at the highest absolute and relative concentrations in the atmosphere of Córdoba during the winter, where they occurred almost throughout. The correlation analysis applied showed that the parameters most markedly influencing the grain concentration of most taxa were the temperature and humidity. Alnus glutinosa was the least affected species, probably because of the scarcity of its pollen grains.

Incidence of Alternaria Nees ex Fries in dwellings of Córdoba City (Spain).

We have studied the occurrence of Alternaria, a genus of allergenic interest in the indoor atmosphere of 14 homes in Córdoba throughout 1984. The sampling was carried out by sedimentation on a broad-spectrum mycological culture medium (2% Agar-Malt extract) in Petri dishes. Samples were collected every fortnight in 14 homes (three dishes per home were exposed in the following rooms, namely the kitchen, the toilet and the bedroom, for 20 minutes) located in different areas of the city and as much as possible representing the various physical conditions found. An overall of 727 Alternaria colonies belonging to six species (A. consortiale, A. crassa, A. dendritica, A. japonica, A. tenuis and A. tenuissima) were detected. Some of them were proven allergenics. They accounted for 5.2% of all fungal colonies found indoors. A. tenuis was by far the most frequently found species, followed by A. tenuissima (second in number) and A. consortiale (the most cosmopolitan) as they were the only species found in all 14 homes. On the other hand, A. crassa was the least frequent of all species collected. We have also determined the general variation of Alternaria and that of the different species found indoors throughout the year, finding a trend with the appearance of peaks towards spring and early summer, especially in June.

Occurrence of Alternaria Nees ex Fr. in indoor and outdoor habitats in Cordoba (Spain).

We have studied the occurrence of a genus of allergic interest, Alternaria, in the outdoor and indoor atmosphere of 14 homes in Córdoba (Spain). The sampling was carried out by the method of sedimentation on a mycological medium twice a month for a period of one year. We detected an overall 3955 colonies of Alternaria belonging to seven different species of this genus (A . consortiale, A . crassa, A . dendritica, A . harzii, A . japonica, A.tenuis and A . tenuissima), some of which are proven allergenic agents. A . tenuis was by far the most frequent of the above mentioned species, both indoors and outdoors. Three of the species identified (A . consortiale, A . crassa and A . harzii) occurred in greater concentrations indoors than outdoors; the remaining four were found to occur preferentially outdoors.