Pollen counts and hay-fever diaries : a campus pilot study

Abstract

The atmosphere consists of various particles of a biological nature, including pollen grains and spores (Sénéchal et al., 2015). Pollen ‘represents the microspore of seed plants’ (Hesse et al., 2009, p35). When the pollen grain has reached its maturity and conditions are right (Grandison, 2012), it is released in order to fertilize the female part of the plant (Hamamura, Nagahara & Higashiyama, 2012). This method is mainly done via wind or animals, however, those plants which are wind pollinated produce many more pollen grains (Echlin, 1968). D’Amato et al. (2007) states that antigens within these pollen grains are able to trigger allergic reactions in sensitized humans, causing allergic rhinitis and worsening the asthma severity (Traidl-Hoffmann et al., 2003). However, there are various environmental and biological factors, apart from pollen grains, which are able to further increase the chances of allergic rhinitis (World Health Organization, 2013). Globally between 10 to 30% of individuals suffer from allergic rhinitis (American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, 2014). For this pilot study pollen and spores were trapped using a Burkard 7-Day Volumetric trap, at the University of Malta. The pollen and spores were transferred onto daily slides and analysed under a light microscope. This process was carried out between the 8th and 15th November 2017, and again from the 26th February till the 12th March, 2018. Pollen and spore counts were changed into p/m3 and were represented in bar graphs. Additionally, an online hay-fever diary was created and filled in by 52 students between the 26th February and the 12th March 2018. The results from the hay-fever diaries were compared with the daily pollen and spore concentrations, using the two predictor model; the findings show no correlation exists. All the data analysed had a P-value greater than 0.05, hence was insignificant. However, the methods used did generate the required datasets and therefore would be recommended for a study on a larger scale.