Establishment, operation and development of the electronic Pollen Information Network (ePIN) in Bavaria, Germany

Abstract

Current data of actual airborne pollen concentrations is of high value for allergy sufferers and medical practitioners, as allergen avoidance is an important therapeutic approach to allergic rhinitis. In addition, pollen concentrations are important indicators for monitoring climate change, providing information on changes in plant growth, plant reactions to climate change and the arrival of neophytes. The importance of pollen monitoring as well as technical developments and the emergence of electronic pollen monitors led to the establishment of the electronic Pollen Information Network (ePIN) in Bavaria, Germany. ePIN is a fully electronic pollen monitoring network that offers real-time pollen information to the public currently in three-hourly intervals. It consists of eight electronic pollen monitors as well as four Hirst-type pollen traps. The ePIN data is public and free of charge. Consumers can access the information via a website or an app. This article describes ePIN, its establishment, operation and further development.

Keywords: Allergy; Biomonitoring network; Climate change; Electronic pollen monitoring; Pollen.

Fig. 1

Eight electronic pollen monitors (blue), four manual Hirst-type pollen traps (green) The map was generated with the ePIN Website, Version 4.0.3 (https://epin.lgl.bayern.de).

Fig. 2

Pollen monitor with required installations, © LGL, Alexander Harand.

Fig. 3

Synthesized pictures of Betula, Artemisia and Fagus pollen. The data from the manual Hirst-type pollen traps must be entered into the database manually.

Fig. 4

Days with measured hazel pollen concentration > 0. Mean values across all eight electronic pollen monitors in December 2019–2023.

Fig. 5

Number of days with measured hazel pollen concentration > 0 at all eight sites in December 2019–2023.

Fig. 6

Unique visitor numbers of the ePIN Website and app from May 2019 until October 24 (missing data in 2020 because of server alterations).