• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2013

The concentration of airborne pollen is related to meteorological parameters. The main purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between airborne pollen and meteorological parameters in Ulsan based on sampling from 2010 to 2011. The primary factors of interest were differences in the pollen scattering start date, end date, and peak date, and the fluctuations in pollen concentration. The meteorological parameters that affected the start and peak dates of the pollen season were as follows. For Pinus and Alnus, the dates were correlated with sunshine and an increase in temperature, whereas for Quercus, the dates were correlated with increasing temperature. During the pollen season, Alnus peaked when the temperature was highest and Pinus peaked when the relative humidity was lowest. The concentration of airborne pollen was correlated with meteorological parameters during the sampling period as follows: Pinus, Alnus, and Humulus pollen concentrations were positively correlated with increasing temperature and negatively correlated with rainfall and relative humidity; Humulus pollen concentration was positively correlated with sunshine; and Quercus and Humulus pollen concentrations were positively correlated with wind speed.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.863-875
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• 2006

Intensive visibility monitoring was conducted to investigate physical and chemical characteristics of visibility impairment by airborne pollen. Light attenuation coefficients were optically measured by a transmissometer, a nephelometer, and an aethalometer. Elemental, ionic, and carbonaceous species were chemically analyzed on the filters collected by $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ samplers. Aerosol size distribution was analyzed using a cascade impactor during airborne pollen period. Airborne pollen count was calculated using a scanning electron microscope. Airborne pollen was emitted into the atmosphere in springtime and funker degraded visibility through its scattering and absorbing the light. Average light extinction coefficient was measured to be $211{\pm}36Mm^{-1}$ when airborne pollen was not observed. But it increased to $459{\pm}267Mm^{-1}$ during the airborne pollen period due to increase of average $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ mass concentration and relative humidity and airborne pollen count concentration for $PM_{10}$, which were measured to be $46.5{\pm}29.1{\mu}g\;m^{-3},\;97.0{\pm}41.7{\mu}g\;m^{-3},\;54.1{\pm}11.6%$, and $68.2{\pm}89.7m^{-3}$, respectively. Average light extinction efficiencies for $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ were calculated to be $5.9{\pm}0.9$ and $4.5{\pm}0.8m^2 g^{-1}$ during the airborne pollen period. Light extinction efficiency for $PM_{10}$ increased further than that for $PM_{2.5}$. The average light extinction budget by airborne pollen was estimated to be about 24% out of the average measured light extinction coefficient during the airborne pollen period.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2015

Although airborne pollen is invisible to the eye, it has been known as a major source to respiratory allergic reactions. For this reason, airborne pollen is monitoring in many countries to predict pollen concentration based on locality and season. However, the morphological characteristics of airborne pollen and their potential tendency as an allergen are still obscure. In the present study, we selected 52 airborne pollen samples based on previously reported data and investigated their detail pollen characteristics using LM and SEM. Major airborne pollen in Korea has sorted in 19 families (most angiosperms except four gymnosperm families), and all pollen grains are small to medium in size ($P=17.34-49.86{\mu}m$) apart from the bisaccate pollen grains of Pinaceae ($P=46.49-106.20{\mu}m$). The aperture number and shape vary from sulcate to polyporate. While the inaperture pollen has found only in gymnosperm (Cupressaceae and Taxaceae), triporate or polyporate is common pollen type in angiosperm. The sexine ornamentations could divide into several types, but the most sculpturing types are inconspicuous like psilate, rugulate and granulate. Reticulate pollen grains as a semitectum have occurred the species of genera Platanus and Fraxinus only. To estimate the possible relationships between pollen features and allergen, the results are discussed in botanical context.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.21 no.E3
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• pp.107-113
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• 2005

Using a sampling device of our own making, airborne pollen has been monitored in Kyoto, Japan from the middle of February to the end of May 2004. From the morphological analysis of pollen grains by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), it was possible to identify some pollen types like Cryptomeria, Pine, Alder, Cyclobalanopsis, Chamaecyparis, and Equisetum. Daily average airborne pollen counts show strong variations from the day to day which makes the appropriate daily forecasts that could be of practical use for patients difficult. Diurnal variation of airborne pollen grains at our local sampling site is very irregular and shows no similarity between pollen types. The highest concentrations of Cryptomeria and Alder pollens in the south -west wind directions might be attributed to the airborne pollen transport, while the increase in Pine pollen grain in the southern wind direction was probably due to the local spread. Prevailing wind direction (SW) during the pollinating periods of Cryptomeria and Alder pollens could suggest a long-distance transport from a distant mountain.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.371-379
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• 2011

To determine the peak dispersal times of allergenic pollen grains in Ulsan, Korea, we performed continuous airborne pollen counts at three stations (Sts. A, B, and C) in Ulsan from August 2009 to November 2010. Pollen grains were sampled using a Durham sampler. Two peak pollen dispersal seasons were observed per year. The peak seasons generally coincided with the flowering period of anemophilous trees: Taxodiaceae (February), Alnus (March), Cupressaceae (April), Quercus, and Pinus (May), and with the flowering phase of herbs from August to November, e.g., Humulus, Artemisia, Gramineae, and Ambrosia from August through September. The highest concentration of airborne pollen was from Pinus (68%), followed by Quercus (15%), Alnus (6%), and Humulus (2%); whereas very low pollen concentrations were from Taxodiaceae, Cupressaceae, Artemisia, Gramineae, and Ambrosia (${\leq}$ 1% of the annual total airborne pollen concentration). Our findings indicate that Alnus and Humulus pollen are major allergens whereas those of Pinus and Quercus are minor allergens. The concentration of Alnus pollen grains at St. C was over five times that at Sts. A and B. This finding implies that individuals living at or near St. C are exposed to high concentrations of Alnus pollen before and after March, which is the flowering period of the alder tree. From August to September, individuals living at or near St. B are exposed to high concentrations of Humulus pollen. Our study suggests that Alnus pollen may be the major aeroallergen causing pollinosis in the spring at St. C and Humulus pollen may be the major aeroallergen in autumn at St. B.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 1985

The airborne pollens were investigated by Durhan's pollen trap in Mt. Kwanak from March 1, 1984 to February 28, 1985. The observed airborn pollens were identified 22 families and 49 genera, which were divided into 27 tree pollens. Most airborne pollens were found from late-March to late-September and a few from early-November to late-February, 1985. The first observed pollen of the year was Alnus on March 5 and the last was Artemisia on Decomber 19, 1984. The maximum amount of daily airborne pollens was 823 grains/cm2 on May 16. Peak day and the maximum amount of major airborne pollens were as follows; 166 grains/cm2/day of Alnus pollen on April 4, 38 gr. of Populus on April. 13, 22 gr. of Quercus on May 10, 791 gr. of Pinus on May 26, 139 gr. on May 26 and 104 gr. of Graminae on September 6, 24 gr. of Ambrosia on Sep. 10 and 236 gr. on May 26 and 104 gr. of Graminae on September 6, 24 gr. of Ambrosia airborne pollen for one year was 12,733 grains/cm2 which were composed of 61% tree pollens and 39% herb ones. Decreasing order of pollen counts was Pinus, Alnus, Quercus and Populus in trees, and Graiminae, Artemisia and Ambrosia in herbs. Most of the airborn pollens were deposited in the day-time and a few at night, the maximum at 2∼4p.m.and the mininum at 8∼10 p.m.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.191-198
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• 2013

Cryptomeria japonica pollen is the most common pollen, which are scattering during each spring season in Japan. Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollinosis is one of seasonal allergic rhinitis that mainly occurs in Japan. In addition, long range transportation of Yellow Sand from the East Asian continent was also found during the pollen scattering seasons in Japan. Therefore, the interaction or impact between pollen and Yellow Sand should be concerned. In this study, our objective was to investigate the airborne behaviour of Cryptomeria japonica pollen grains and its size-segregated allergenic (Cry j 1) particles as the airborne tracer of Cryptomeria japonica pollen during the Yellow Sand events. Airborne Cryptomeria japonica pollen grains and its size-segregated allergenic particles were collected at roadside of urban residential zones of Saitama city during the pollination periods from February to March in two year investigation of 2009 and 2010. The overlap of Yellow Sand events and dispersal peak of pollen grains was observed. According to the Meteorological data, we found that the peaks of airborne pollen grains appeared under higher wind speed and temperature than the previous day. It was thought that Yellow Sand events and airborne pollen counts were related to wind speed. From the investigation of the airborne behavior of the size-segregated allergen particles by determining Cry j 1 with Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), the higher concentrations of the allergenic Cry j 1 were detected in particle size equal to or less than $1.1{\mu}m$($PM_{1.1}$) than other particle sizes during Yellow Sand events, especially in the rainy day. We conclude that rainwater trapping Yellow Sand is one of the important factors that affect the release of allergenic pollen species of Cry j 1. Therefore, it is very important to clarify the relationships between Cryptomeria japonica pollen allergenic species and chemical contents of the Yellow Sand particles in further studies.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.123-130
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• 1988

The airborne pollens were studied by Durhan's pollen trap in Mt. Kwan-ak from March 1, 1984 to October 15, 1986. Most airborne pollens were found from late-March to late-September and few of them from early-November to late-February. Peak times of airborne pollens were found for one year as follows; First, from late-March to early-April, Second, middle-May, third, from late-August to middle-September. Peak day of airborne pollens of each species was related with cumulative temperature. The total amount of airborne pollen during one year had fluctuation in each year. Year by year, the amount of airborne pollens from tree was increaed, but airborne pollens of grasses was decreased. Among tree airborne pollens, the deposition rate of pinus pollen was steady, bur Quercus was relatively increased.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 2013

Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollinosis is the most popular pollinosis in Japan. It has been reported that Cryptomeria japonica pollen allergenic species are suspended as fine particles in the urban atmosphere. These allergenic fine particles are responsible for inducing asthma by breaking into the lower respiratory tract. It has also been found that pollinosis symptoms on the sufferers appear mainly at night-time by the results from epidemiological studies. However, the exact reason for these phenomena is not yet clarified. In this study, the diurnal and nocturnal behaviours of Cryptomeria japonica pollen grains and their allergenic species in the urban area of Saitama city of Kanto Plain were investigated. Airborne pollen grains and allergenic Cry j 1 concentrations in total suspended particulate matter (TSP) were investigated at two sampling sites, a heavy traffic road (roadside site) and at the balcony of the $10^{th}$ floor of the Building of Research and Project of Saitama University (general urban site). The latter sampling site where located about 300 m away from the roadside site was used as a general urban site unaffected by automobile traffic. The airborne pollen counts were measured with a real-time pollen monitor. Cry j 1 particles were collected with two high volume air samplers, and these concentrations were measured by surface plasmon resonance method with a Biacore J system. The diurnal variation of the airborne pollen counts was similar to the trends of temperature and wind speed during the day-time; whereas its tendency with wind speed trend was not observed during the night-time. Airborne pollen counts were lower with northern wind than with southern wind because the pollen comes from the mountainous areas, and the mountains in the south are closer, about half the distance to the northern mountains. It is suggested that the peaks of airborne pollen counts during night-time in the sampling site occurred by transport of pollen grains released during day-time in the mountainous forest areas, located c.a. 100 km away from the sampling site. On the roadside site the allergenic Cry j 1 concentrations were higher than at the general urban site, nevertheless pollen grains counts were lower. These results suggested that worsening of pollinosis symptoms during night-time in urban area was caused by transport of pollen grains during day-time in the mountainous forest areas. Moreover, pollen allergenic species become different morphology from pollen grain at roadside site, and the subsequent pollen grains re-suspension by automobile traffic.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.155-161
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• 1977

Pollinosis usually caused by the airborne pollen grains, is an allergical disease which causes snivel and sneeze. The author has studied on airborne pollen grains collected at Chong-ro district in Seoul about 15m from April 1975 to March 1976. The obtained grains were 4 spp. of Gymnospermae, 19 spp. of Dicotyledoneae and 10 spp. of Monocotyledoneae. The tree season ranged from March to June, Alnus, Pinus and Acer were prevalent. The grass season ranged from May to October, Gramineae were prevalent. The weed season ranged from August, Artemisia were prevalent and ragweed was found.