Analysis of Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae airborne pollen in Salamanca, Spain

Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae pollen represents an allergenic risk for pollen-sensitive people. The aim of this study was to describe the Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae pollen dynamics in the atmosphere of Salamanca (mid-west Spain) during the years 2000-2007. Measurements were performed by the volumetric method using a Burkard spore trap located in the urban centre at the height of 20 m above ground level. This pollen type was mainly detected in the atmosphere between late spring and late summer, with an Atmospheric Pollen Season (APS) registered between late May and early October and maximum concentrations detected in August. The intradiurnal pattern, calculated by means of 3 different methods, reached a higher hourly concentration percentage in the second half of the day. The correlations obtained between daily pollen counts and different meteorological parameters showed that the airborne presence of this pollen type is associated positively with temperature and negatively with rainfall and relative humidity. In terms of the known threshold (10-15 pollen/m(3)), Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae pollen concentrations were found to exceed this threshold on 1 day in the years 2002, 2005, and 2007, and on 12 days in 2006. The results can be utilised to prevent symptoms of allergic reactions to this pollen type and to improve quality of life during seasonal allergic diseases in Chenopodiaceae pollen-sensitive people.