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. 2022 Jun 26;14(6):e26335.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.26335. eCollection 2022 Jun.

A Study of Airborne Pollen Grains and Fungal Spores in the Region of Epirus (Northwestern Greece)

Ioannis D Komnos  1 , Maria C Michali  1 , Nafsika V Ziavra  2 , Michael A Katotomichelakis  3 , Ioannis G Kastanioudakis  1
Affiliations

A Study of Airborne Pollen Grains and Fungal Spores in the Region of Epirus (Northwestern Greece)

Ioannis D Komnos et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Introduction: In the region of Epirus (Northwestern Greece) there are characteristic climatic and geographical conditions that facilitate the growth of typical vegetation with the production of allergic pollen. Aerobiological research into airborne pollen diversity and seasonal variation in pollen counts and fungi spores has become essential due to the growing incidence of allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, and other pollen-related and spore-related allergic conditions. Furthermore, weather conditions and other factors like air pollution may affect the intensity, the onset, and the duration of the pollen season, and the impact on the patient's symptomatology.

Methods: The diversity of airborne pollen grains (grains/m3) and fungal spores (spores/m3) in the region of Epirus were measured volumetrically using Burgard trap for 13 months, from May 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018.

Results: Totally, 10 pollen families and two fungi were recognized. The six most common taxa were Cupressaceae, Pinaceae, Urticaceae, Poaceae, Betulaceae, and Compositeae. The fungi taxa were Cladosporium and Alternaria. Peak pollen centralization was recorded from May to September. Urticaceae had the longest pollen season while Oleaceae and Pinaceae had the shorter. Fungal spores were recorded during all the months of the year. Also, there was a correlation between meteorological parameters and most pollen taxa.

Conclusion: The pollen and spore calendar shows the concentration of pollen grains and fungal spores in the region of Epirus. This knowledge is important for physicians and allergic patients as it could improve the management of the allergic respiratory disease.

Keywords: aerobiological studies; airborne allergens; fungal spores; pollen calendar; volumetric trap.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The region of Epirus (Greece) (el.wikipedia.org).
Figure 2
Figure 2. Daily mean concentrations for Cladosporium (spores/m3), the most abundant aeroallergen.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Daily mean concentrations for Alternaria (spores/m3), the second more abundant aeroallergen.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Daily mean concentrations for Cupressaceae (grains/m3), the third more abundant aeroallergen.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Daily mean concentrations for Pinaceae (grains/m3), the fourth more abundant aeroallergen.
Figure 6
Figure 6. Daily mean concentrations for Urticaceae (grains/m3), the fifth more abundant aeroallergen.
Figure 7
Figure 7. Daily mean concentrations for Poaceae (grains/m3), the sixth more abundant aeroallergen.
Figure 8
Figure 8. The concentration of pollen grains (grains/m3) and the pollen seasons.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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