Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Grana

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Publication Date

6-2010

Volume

49

Issue

2

Disciplines

Public Health

Abstract

A study was conducted in Missoula, Montana to compare local pollen counts from 1978 with those measured nearly 30 years later in 2006 using two different measurement techniques (Durham gravimetric sampler and a Burkard volumetric sampler). Trends in peak pollen times measured during the spring, summer and autumn, respectively, were compared between the two years by Pearson’s correlation and frequency of occurrence of plant genus. Meteorological conditions were also examined during each of the two study periods.

In comparing the two years, there was a statistically significant linear association between the different counts for the months of April through August, with similar levels of pollen types for any given month. The five predominant pollen types (based on counts) identified in each study were Pinus, Poaceae, Populus, Alnus, and Betula for 2006 and Pinus, Poaceae, Populus, Acer and Artemisia for 1978. In summary most of the genera displayed similar peak pollination timing between the two years, suggesting that results from the Durham (gravimetric) and Burkard (volumetric) sampling methods are comparable when reporting relative frequency of occurrence.

Keywords

pollen, aeroallergen, peak pollination, seasonal rhinitis, climate change

DOI

10.1080/00173131003587049

Comments

This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in Grana Jun 2010 copyright Taylor & Francis, available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00173131003587049

Rights

©2010 Collegium Palynologicum Scandinavicum

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