Publications by authors named "Puc Malgorzata"

The study is aimed at determining the potential spatiotemporal risk of the co-occurrence of airborne pollen and fungal spores high concentrations in different bio-climatic zones in Europe. Birch, grass, mugwort, ragweed, olive pollen and Alternaria and Cladosporium fungal spores were investigated at 16 sites in Europe, in 2005-2019. In Central and northern Europe, pollen and fungal spore seasons mainly overlap in June and July, while in South Europe, the highest pollen concentrations occur frequently outside of the spore seasons.

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We analyse the impact of ground-based data assimilation to the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) meteorological model on parameters relevant for birch pollen emission calculations. Then, we use two different emission databases (BASE - no data assimilation, OBSNUD - data assimilation for the meteorological model) in the chemical transport model and evaluate birch pollen concentrations. Finally, we apply a scaling factor for the emissions (BASE and OBSNUD), based on the ratio between simulated and observed seasonal pollen integral (SPIn) to analyse its impact on birch concentrations over Central Europe.

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Article Synopsis
  • Increasing allergies from airborne pollen and pollutants are affecting life quality in industrialized nations.
  • The WRF-Chem model, which combines weather data with atmospheric chemistry, was used to analyze birch pollen concentrations in Central Europe for two seasons (2015 and 2016).
  • The model performed well in 2015 but struggled in 2016, indicating the need to adjust seasonal pollen emissions to enhance accuracy in predicting allergy symptoms.
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High Ambrosia pollen concentrations in Poland rather rarely come from the local sources. The aim of this study was to define the temporal and spatial differences of the high Ambrosia pollen concentrations by creating models for the pollen transport from the distant sources. This study was thought to determine the direction of the air masses inflow into Poland, carrying Ambrosia pollen, from areas of the bordering countries with the pollen concentrations higher than iSTOTEN_n Poland.

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Exposure to airborne pollen allergens results in allergic symptoms in subjects who are sensitized. The paper presents diurnal variation in the counts of airborne allergenic pollen of selected trees (Betula L., Alnus Mill.

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During the spring period, Betula pollen is the main cause of inhalant allergies in Poland and therefore it is important to monitor and forecast airborne pollen concentrations of this taxon. This study conducted a comparative analysis of the basic characteristics of Betula pollen seasons at the regional scale. The study was carried out from 2001 to 2016 in five cities in Poland: Lublin, Warsaw, Cracow, Sosnowiec, and Szczecin.

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Introduction: Among herbal plants, most cases of allergic reactions, like seasonal inflammation of nasal mucosa, conjunctivitis and pollen asthma, are related to the allergens from grass pollen. As the blossoming and pollination of rye is known to start the pollen season of grasses, information about the airborne rye pollen count permits alerting the people allergic to certain allergens contained in rye pollen. An important cause of allergy is also the pollen from wormwood, blossoming in late summer, as its two main allergens produce cross-reactions with many other plant allergens.

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The Asteraceae family is one of the largest families, comprising 67 genera and 264 species in Poland. However, only a few genera, including Artemisia and Ambrosia are potential allergenic sources. The aim of the study was to estimate how often and to what degree Artemisia and Ambrosia pollen seasons co-occur intensifying human health risk, and how synoptic situations influence frequency of days with high pollen concentrations of both taxa.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to develop predictive models for high daily pollen concentrations using spatiotemporal data and established pollen count levels based on initial allergy symptoms.
  • The dataset was split into training and test sets, with models created for each taxon and city using a random forest approach, though these models showed limited effectiveness.
  • Despite this, the research indicated that past pollen count data from monitoring sites could be used to accurately predict days with high pollen levels for certain taxa, leading to potential simplifications in modeling.
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This study compares phenological observations of (hazel) and (alder) flowering with airborne pollen counts of these taxa recorded using volumetric spore traps (2009-2011). The work was carried out in the Polish cities of Szczecin and Rzeszów that are located in different climatic regions. Correlations between pollen concentrations and meteorological data were investigated using Spearman's rank correlation analysis.

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Introduction And Objectives: The allergenic pollen content of the atmosphere varies according to climate, biogeography and vegetation. Minimisation of the pollen allergy symptoms is related to the possibility of avoidance of large doses of the allergen. Measurements performed in Szczecin over a period of 13 years (2000-2012 inclusive) permitted prediction of theoretical maximum concentrations of pollen grains and their probability for the pollen season of Poaceae, Artemisia and Ambrosia.

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Pollen grains are one of the most important groups of atmospheric biological particles that originate allergic processes. Knowledge of intradiurnal variation of the atmospheric pollen may be useful for the treatment and prevention of pollen allergies. Intradiurnal fluctuation of hourly pollen counts in 24 h are related to the daily rhythm of anther opening, and modified by various interacting factors.

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The dynamics of Poaceae pollen season, in particularly that of the Secale genus, in Szczecin (western Poland) 2004-2008 was analysed to establish a relationship between the meteorological variables, air pollution and the pollen count of the taxa studied. Consecutive phases during the pollen season were defined for each taxon (1, 2.5, 5, 25, 50, 75, 95, 97.

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Birch pollen is one of the main causes of allergy during spring and early summer in northern and central Europe. The aim of this study was to create a forecast model that can accurately predict daily average concentrations of Betula sp. pollen grains in the atmosphere of Szczecin, Poland.

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The aim of the study was to compare the concentration of 3 allergenic taxa pollen (ash, birch and oak) in the cities of Lublin (eastern Poland) and Szczecin (western Poland) during the years 2004 and 2005 and examine correlations between weather factors and pollen concentration. The meteorological parameters analysed were maximum and mean air temperature, relative humidity, amount of precipitation and wind speed. Measurements were performed by the volumetric method (Lanzoni 2000 pollen sampler).

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Grass pollens are known as very potent aeroallergens. The aim of the study was to analyse the grass pollen season in Szczecin (western Poland) in the years 2000-2003 and to establish a relationship between the meteorological conditions and the pollen counts of Poaceae. The meteorological parameters analysed were the maximum and mean air temperature, relative humidity, amount of precipitation and wind speed.

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The aim of the study was to analyse the ragweed (Ambrosia) pollination in Szczecin (western Poland) in the years 2000-2002. Measurements were performed by the volumetric and gravimetric method. Pollen seasons were defined as the periods of 90 % of the total catch.

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Characterisation of pollen allergens.

Ann Agric Environ Med

February 2004

Allergy is hypersensitive reaction by the body to foreign substances (antigens) which in similar amounts and circumstances are harmless within the bodies of other people. The allergic response develops when the natural immune defence mechanism, responsible for the correct reaction to environmental agents, is disturbed. The allergens are divided into those originating from the natural environment and those from a chemically contaminated environment.

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The aim of the study was to analyse a relationship between the meteorological conditions and the pollen counts of selected allergenic taxa (Betula spp., Populus spp.) in the air of Szczecin city (north western Poland) in 2001.

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