Article,
A comparison of Betula pollen seasons at two European sites; Derby, United Kingdom and Poznan, Poland (1995–1999).
18 (1): 45--53 (2002)
DOI: 10.1023/a:1014953527763
Abstract
A comparison of Betula pollen, animportant European aeroallergen, was undertakenat two sites of similar latitude, Derby, UnitedKingdom and Poznan, Poland from 1995–1999. Bothsites routinely monitor Betula pollenusing a Burkard continuous volumetric sampler.Daily and two-hourly March–June Betulapollen counts per cubic metre of air werestudied at both sites, together withcorresponding meteorological data. Detailedanalysis was undertaken to compare start dates,duration and quantity of Betula pollen.Derby usually had an earlier start of seasonthan Poznan, and both cities showed very littledifference between start dates determined byusing the SUM 75 or 2.5\% method. The longestseasonal durations at Derby and Poznan yieldedthe lowest seasonal pollen indexes. Every yearfrom 1995–1999 the Betula seasonal pollenindex was higher in Poznan than in Derby. Poznanhad more daily counts of Betula pollengrains per cubic metre above 500, and at leastone daily count of 1000, each year. At bothsites the yearly seasonal variation correlatedwith the number of April days per year having amaximum temperature of 17 °C or above.There was a similar diurnal periodicity ofApril Betula pollen in Derby and Poznan.Although the two cities, at approximately thesame latitude, have different regional andmeteorological characteristics, the weatherappears to influence Betula pollenseasons in a similar manner. Local clinicianscould use the SUM 75 method as indicative ofthe start of the Betula pollen season atboth sites.
