scholarly journals Aeroallergens and Asthma

1994 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 248-256
Author(s):  
Moira Chan-Yeung ◽  
Santiago Quirce

The main aeroallergens in both the indoor and outdoor environment that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma are reviewed. Pollen and fungal spores are important outdoor aeroallergens that cause sensitization in atopic subjects, leading to rhinitis and asthma in a proportion of the sensitized subjects. Each pollen type displays a particular seasonal periodicity: tree pollen are prevalent in the late winter and spring, grass in the spring and summer and weed mainly in the fall. There are regional differences in the type of pollen grains in Canada. Although the pollen grains arc large fragments less than 10 µ can reach the lower airways to cause asthma. Some fungal spores. such asAlternariaandCladosporium, have been implicated in asthma. The full clinical impact of fungi in asthma has yet lo be clarified. With the construction of homes that are tightly scaled to conserve heat and the use or wall to wall carpet. the type and concentration of indoor aeroallergens have become increasingly different from outdoors. House dust mite and pet allergens have now been shown to he important acro:dlergcns that sensitize children in infancy and are risk factors for asthma. Clinicians should recognize the importance of aeroallergens in asthma because avoidance and/or reduc1iun of exposure is an important part of the management besides drug therapy.

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santosh Kumar Verma ◽  
Kimitaka Kawamura ◽  
Jing Chen ◽  
Pingqing Fu

Abstract. In order to understand the atmospheric transport of bioaerosols, we conducted long-term observations of primary sugars and sugar alcohols over remote Chichijima Island in the western North Pacific from 2001 to 2013. Our results showed that concentrations of total sugar compounds for 13 years ranged from 1.2 to 310 ng m−3 (average, 46 ± 49 ng m−3). We found that atmospheric circulations significantly affect the seasonal variations of bioaerosol distributions over the western North Pacific. The primary sugars (glucose and fructose) maximized in summer, possibly due to a decreased transport of Asian aerosols and increased local emission of vegetation products from the vascular plants in Chichijima. We also found higher concentrations of sugar components (arabitol, mannitol and trehalose) in more recent years during summer/autumn, suggesting an enhanced emission of fungal and microbial species over the island. Sucrose peaked in late winter to early spring, indicating a springtime pollen contribution by long-range atmospheric transport, while elevated concentrations of sucrose in early summer could be assumed to be long-range transport of soil dust from Southeast Asia to Chichijima. Positive matrix factorization analyses suggested the locally emitted sugar compounds as well as long-range transported air borne pollen grains, microbes and fungal spores are the major contributors to total sugar compounds in the Chichijima aerosols. Backward air mass trajectories support the atmospheric transport of continental aerosols from the Asian continent during winter/spring over Chichijima.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Pavan ◽  
K. Manjunath

Air pollution is one of the most serious problems to human health. Fungi are the causal agents for different diseases in animals, plants, and human beings. Otomycosis, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, allergy, and systemic mycosis are among the fungal diseases caused. The present study was conducted to analyze the monthly incidence of airborne fungi, seasonal variation, and influence of meteorological parameters in indoor and outdoor fungi of cowshed at Hesaraghatta village, Bangalore. An aeromycological survey of indoor and outdoor area of cowshed at Hesaraghatta village in Bangalore city was carried out using the Andersen two-stage sampler onto a petri dish containing malt extract agar from January 2011 to December 2011. Altogether, 29 species belonging to 13 genera from indoor and 26 species belonging to 12 genera were recorded from outdoor environment of the cowshed; the dominant fungal species identified were Cladosporium sp., Aspergillus sp., and Alternaria alternata. Seasonal occurrence of fungal spores in both indoor and outdoor of the cowshed revealed that maximum spores were recorded in summer season followed by winter and rainy season.


2012 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Idalia Kasprzyk

The co-occurrence of airborne allergenic pollen grains and fungal spores was estimated in Rzeszów in the years 2000-2002. The volumetric method was used in this aerobiological study. Six taxa of pollen grains and five types of fungal spores characterized by strong allergenicity and/or high concentrations in the air were analyzed. The time series of pollen grains and fungal spores were compared using PCA analysis. The periods of the greatest concentrations of tree pollen did not coincide with similar periods for herbaceous plants and fungal spores. From February to mid-March, <i>Alnus</i> pollen dominated in the air. The second period was characterized by <i>Betula</i> pollen. It occurred in April. Herbaceous pollen and fungal spores occurred in the air simultaneously (from mid May to the end of August), creating a risky situation for sensitized people. The periods of the highest concentrations of <i>Epicoccum</i> and <i>Ganoderma</i> fungal spores did not coincide with the same period for the examined plant taxa. In Rzeszów the probability of becoming exposed to very high concentrations of allergenic pollen and fungal spores at the same time was high, especially in July, when the highest concentrations of Poaceae, <i>Alternaria</i> and <i>Cladosporium</i> were noted. The hypersensitivity to only one plant or fungal allergen is rarely encountered. Under the present scenarios of global warming, pollen seasons of many taxa will be longer and sufferers will have year-long symptoms.


2012 ◽  
Vol 245 ◽  
pp. 255-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudolf Jánoš ◽  
Mikuláš Hajduk ◽  
Ján Semjon ◽  
Ľuboslava Šidlovská

Wheels and legs are two widely accepted methodology used to move the moving platform to the ground. Wheels are human inventions, the rolls in a straight country excel in energy efficiency and speed of movement. Hybrid platform for integrating the benefits of legs and wheels with high mobility of both seems to be the "future" of mobile platforms for indoor and outdoor environment. This paper describes the design leg-wheel chassis for service robot.


2014 ◽  
Vol 881-883 ◽  
pp. 1233-1236
Author(s):  
Zhong Hua Wang

In this paper, ways of heat transfer through windows and doors between the indoor and outdoor environment in the northern area are summarized. And every heat transfer way is described by mathematical formula. On this basis, methods to improve the energy saving performance of exterior windows are put forward according to factors affecting heat transfer through windows. The first method is increasing solar radiation heat, and then reducing heat loss by infiltration, and increasing the thermal resistance as much as possible. Ideal form of energy-saving window is proposed based on compared windows with different material and thermal resistance.


Author(s):  
Jun Zhang ◽  
Xiao-zhong Huang ◽  
Jia-le Wang ◽  
Richard HW Bradshaw ◽  
Tao Wang ◽  
...  

Precipitation has been suggested as a crucial influencing factor in the primary productivity in arid and semi-arid regions, yet how moisture fluctuation in an arid mountain-basin system of the north Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau has affected human activities is poorly understood. Here, we reconstruct the variations of grazing intensity in high elevations and regional humidity based on independent and high-resolution records of Sporormiella-type coprophilous fungal spores and pollen grains in the same well-dated sediment core from Lake Tian’E in the western Qilian Mountains over the past 3500 years. We find that stronger grazing activity was associated with low regional effective moisture, and propose that the drier regional climate pushed people and their livestock into the mountainous areas. A notable exception was a reduction of human and grazing activities in arid region with high mountains during 380–580 CE caused by centennial-length dry and cold conditions. In addition, it is also noteworthy that intensified grazing activity occurred during 580–720 CE and after ∼1920 CE, corresponding to a warmer and wetter climate and diverse subsistence strategies with social developments in the lowlands of the Hexi Corridor. Our findings potentially provide a historical reference for understanding how ancient people adapted to the climate change in arid region with high mountains.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1077
Author(s):  
Agata Ćwik ◽  
Tomasz Wójcik ◽  
Maria Ziaja ◽  
Magdalena Wójcik ◽  
Katarzyna Kluska ◽  
...  

Urban water bodies are an important asset in terms of climate change. The accompanying vegetation is an integral part of the waterside space system and a source of ecosystem services and disservices. The composition of greenery in waterside spaces should therefore be preceded by detailed research. This research would be the basis for the development of recommendations for enhancement of the positive impact of vegetation on humans and minimisation of its negative effect. The aim of the study was to identify ecosystem services and disservices of vegetation in the four most important waterside recreation spaces in the city of Rzeszów, Poland, and to develop plant composition guidelines. A detailed inventory of vegetation and aerobiological monitoring of the presence of airborne allergenic pollen grains and fungal spores were carried out. Next, the ecosystem services and disservices of the vegetation were determined based on literature data and on our expert judgement. Additionally, a counting of the number of visitors to waterside areas was conducted. All these steps were used to develop recommendations for shaping the vegetation of study areas. The results of the investigations show that the boulevards along the artificial lake function completely differently than other investigated places as the area resembles an urban park, and the water is not the main attraction in this space. The vegetation of the boulevards and the nearby gravel-pit bathing area has mostly a spontaneous character and offers the widest range of ecosystem services and disservices. The management of the vegetation should focus on its health-enhancing values. The vegetation growing near the outdoor swimming pools has been designed by man. Nevertheless, it requires recomposing and is targeted specifically at the enhancement of the visual attractiveness. Additionally, there is a need for planting compact deciduous trees that will provide shade at the multi-media fountain.


2004 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 381-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Martínez-Girón ◽  
Andrés Ribas-Barceló ◽  
M Teresa García-Miralles ◽  
Dolores López-Cabanilles ◽  
M Luisa Tamargo-Peláez ◽  
...  

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