• A. Simoleit, U. Gauger, H.-G. Mücke, M. Werchan, B. Obstová, T. Zuberbier and K.-C. Bergmann. Intradiurnal patterns of allergenic airborne pollen near a city motorway in Berlin, Germany. Aerobiologia 32, 199–209 (2016). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10453-015-9390-6
    (First published: 3 June 2015)
    Abstract: In this study, the seasonally averaged intradiurnal patterns of four different pollen types (Fraxinus, Betula, Poaceae and Artemisia) and the role of traffic volume, air pollution and selected weather parameters were investigated. Measurements were carried out with a 7-day recording volumetric spore trap (Hirst type) near a congested city motorway (the A 100) in Berlin, Germany, in 2012, 2013 and partly 2011. Both Poaceae and Artemisia pollen showed distinct patterns which were similar across the years. The main period of grass pollen concentrations in the air was from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. with peaks about midday or in the afternoon. Mugwort pollen mainly occurred between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. with a clear maximum from 8 to 10 a.m. With regard to Fraxinus and Betula pollen, the patterns were not as clear and showed differences throughout the years. The intradiurnal patterns of traffic volume and pollen load, mainly of Poaceae in the afternoon and Artemisia in the morning, were partly coincident. The combination of both a high pollen count and air pollution, due to exhaust emissions, represents a special health threat which could result in a double burden for allergy sufferers. In the case of the daily means of Betula and Poaceae, relative humidity had a significantly negative effect on pollen concentrations on the same and/or next day/s, sunshine duration (Poaceae) and air temperature (Artemisia) a positive one.
  • M. Sofiev, U. Berger, M. Prank, J. Vira, J. Arteta, J. Belmonte, K.-C. Bergmann, F. Chéroux, H. Elbern, E.Friese, C. Galan, R. Gehrig, D. Khvorostyanov, R. Kranenburg, U. Kumar, V. Marécal, F. Meleux, L. Menut, A.-M. Pessi, L. Robertson, O. Ritenberga, V. Rodinkova, A. Saarto, A. Segers, E. Severova, I. Sauliene, P. Siljamo, B. M. Steensen, E. Teinemaa, M. Thibaudon and V.-H. Peuch. MACC regional multi-model ensemble simulations of birch pollen dispersion in Europe. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 8115–8130, 2015. https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/15/8115/2015/
    (First published: 23 July 2015)
    Abstract. This paper presents the first ensemble modelling experiment in relation to birch pollen in Europe. The sevenmodel European ensemble of MACC-ENS, tested in trial simulations over the flowering season of 2010, was run through the flowering season of 2013. The simulations have been compared with observations in 11 countries, all members of the European Aeroallergen Network, for both individual models and the ensemble mean and median. It is shown that the models successfully reproduced the timing of the very late season of 2013, generally within a couple of days from the observed start of the season. The end of the season was generally predicted later than observed, by 5 days or more, which is a known feature of the source term used in the study. Absolute pollen concentrations during the season were somewhat underestimated in the southern part of the birch habitat. In the northern part of Europe, a recordlow pollen season was strongly overestimated by all models. The median of the multi-model ensemble demonstrated robust performance, successfully eliminating the impact of outliers, which was particularly useful since for most models this was the first experience of pollen forecasting.
  • Karl-Christian Bergmann, Wolfgang Straff. Klimawandel und Pollenallergie: Wie können Städte und Kommunen allergene Pflanzen im öffentlichen Raum reduzieren? UMID 2 • 2015 https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/378/publikationen/umid_02-2015_gesamt_internet.pdf
    (First published: November 2015)
    Zusammenfassung. Der Klimawandel führt zu Veränderungen der Pollenexposition der Bevölkerung. Besonders betroffen sind davon unter anderem Pollenallergiker, die auf Haselnuss, Erle und Birke reagieren, denn diese Bäume blühen früher im Jahr und produzieren Pollen in tendenziell höheren Konzentrationen. Dieser Trend verstärkt sich durch die Neuanpflanzung allergener Baumarten in Städten. Bisher gibt es in Deutschland keine Empfehlung zur Neupflanzung von Bäumen im öffentlichen Raum, die Rücksicht auf die Belange von Pollenallergikern nimmt. Vorgelegt wird hier ein Vorschlag, welche Baumarten bei Anpflanzungen in Städten zu vermeiden sind, um einer weiteren Erhöhung der Menge an Baumpollen gerade im Lebensraum vieler Menschen mit Allergien vorzubeugen. Beigefügt ist außerdem eine Auflistung allergologisch unbedenklicher Baumsorten, die aus diesem Grund zur Anpflanzung geeignet wären.