Allergenic Platanus (plane tree) pollen concentrations in Turkey

Abstract

Objective: Plane tree pollen grains has an important place among aeroallergens that present in the air and cause allergy by entering the body via respiratory track.

Materials and Methods: In this study, monthly variation and annual proportions of Platanus pollen investigated for 72 atmospheric pollen studies in Turkey, which carried out by using Lanzoni/Burkard sampler with volumetric method or by using Durham sampler with gravimetric method. Furthermore, researches evaluated about Platanus pollen sensitivities, performed in Europe and our country.

Results: According to the atmospheric pollen studies, plane tree pollen grains have been detected in a very short period and intensively in the air. In some regions, Platanus pollen found in very highlevels and placed in most dominated five taxa among the total. In Bursa city, main pollen season of plane tree pollen grains continued for 62 days in the year 2013.

Conclusion: Due to carrying out widespread planting of Platanus for decorative purposes especially in parks, gardens and along the streets in recent years and producing large amounts of pollen in spring period especially in April and May; it should be considered that symptoms can occur in people who are sensitive to plane tree pollen. In addition it must not forgotten that, vegetable originated food allergy (oral allergy syndrome) can be accompanied with Platanus pollen allergy on these individuals.

C1 [Bicakci, Adem; Tosunoglu, Aycan] Uludag Univ, Fac Art & Sci, Dept Biol, Bursa, Turkey.

[Saatcioglu, Gulsah] Inonu Univ, Battalgazi High Sch, Malatya, Turkey.