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A growing number of studies are researching indoor air concentrations of pollen in buildings, but to our knowledge no studies have dealt with the precise concentration of pollen inside private cars. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of exposure to pollen in private cars throughout the Poaceae and Artemisia spp. pollen season. The study was conducted in the town of Lappeenranta and along Highway 6 in south-east Finland between July 14 and August 17, 2003. The pollen concentrations were measured inside two moving and parked cars using rotorod-type samplers. Surface and ambient Burkard samples were also collected. Both Poaceae and Artemisia spp. pollen were recorded only on one day and in low concentrations (<10 pollen grains per cubic meter, pg/m3) inside moving and parked cars, whereas the concentrations of Betula spp. (0-15 vs. 0-12 pg/m3) and Pinus (0-41 vs. 0-80 pg/m3) ranged from low to moderate, respectively. The number of pollen grains on the inside surfaces of cars ranged from zero to 72 pg/cm2 during the measurement periods. The concentrations of Poaceae and Artemisia spp. pollen in the indoor air of the car during the flowering period were low, therefore, likely to cause reactions only in the most sensitive people. By contrast, even after the main flowering period the concentrations of Betula spp. pollen were on a level high enough to cause reactions in individuals with allergies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the feasibility of numerical simulation of large-scale atmospheric transport of allergenic pollen. It is shown that at least small grains, such as birch pollen, can stay in the air for a few days, which leads to a characteristic scale for their transport of ∼103 km. The analytical consideration confirmed the applicability of existing dispersion models to the pollen transport task and provided some reference parameterizations of the key processes, including dry and wet deposition. The results were applied to the Finnish Emergency Dispersion Modelling System (SILAM), which was then used to analyze pollen transport to Finland during spring time in 2002–2004. Solutions of the inverse problems (source apportionment) showed that the main source areas, from which the birch flowering can affect Finnish territory, are the Baltic States, Russia, Germany, Poland, and Sweden—depending on the particular meteorological situation. Actual forecasting of pollen dispersion required a birch forest map of Europe and a unified European model for birch flowering, both of which were nonexistent before this study. A map was compiled from the national forest inventories of Western Europe and satellite images of broadleaf forests. The flowering model was based on the mean climatological dates for the onset of birch forests rather than conditions of any specific year. Utilization of probability forecasting somewhat alleviated the problem, but the development of a European-wide flowering model remains the main obstacle for real-time forecasting of large-scale pollen distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the start of the birch pollen season requires the reliable separation of non‐local from locally produced birch pollen. The research was undertaken close to the latitudinal birch tree line at the Kevo Subarctic Research Institute (69°45′N 27°01′E) in northern Finland. By comparing phenological and aerobiological observations, the proportion of birch pollen present in the air before local anthesis commences can be delimited. We coupled this with data of pollen deposition monitored by means of a modified Tauber trap. The dominant birch species at Kevo is the mountain birch Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii , whereas B. pubescens ssp. pubescens is very rare, hence we consider the proportion of the southerly B. pubescens ‐type pollen deposited in the pollen trap to be non‐local in origin. We did not observe any trend towards an earlier start of the phenologically observed mountain birch anthesis at Kevo as predicted from work elsewhere. Moreover, the fixed 2.5% threshold method for determining the birch pollen season proved not to be applicable since in many years this threshold was reached before the end of continuous snow cover. The results indicate that in some years non‐local birch pollen contributes considerably to the allergen load in Lapland with up to 57% of the total birch pollen sum being recorded before the day on which local anthesis commenced, and up to 70% of the annual birch pollen deposited being of the southerly birch type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractInfectious viruses and bacteria can trigger multiple sclerosis (MS) exacerbations. Seasonally changing concentrations of ambient air pollutants are known to predispose to transmissible infections, to induce systemic immune responses and to enhance existing peripheral inflammation. Ambient air quality and monthly MS relapse occurrence in south-western Finland were compared by multivariate logistic regression. The odds ratio of the risk of a relapse onset was over fourfold (4.143, p < 0.001) when the concentration of inhalable particulate matter (PM10) was at the highest quartile. Inhalable airborne particulate matter concentrations were connected to relapse occurrence. Poor air quality may enhance the seasonal changes in MS relapse occurrence by an increased susceptibility to transmissible infections.Copyright © 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A shift in the timing of birch pollen seasons is important because it is well known to be a significant aeroallergen, especially in NW Europe where it is a notable cause of hay fever and pollen-related asthma. The research reported in this paper aims to investigate temporal patterns in the start dates of Betula (birch) pollen seasons at selected sites across Europe. In particular it investigates relationships between the changes in start dates and changes in spring temperatures over approximately the last 20 years. Daily birch pollen counts were used from Kevo, Turku, London, Brussels, Zurich and Vienna, for the core period from 1982 to 1999 and, in some cases, from 1970 to 2000. The sites represent a range of biogeographical situations from just within the Arctic Circle through to North West Maritime and Continental Europe. Pollen samples were taken with Hirst-type volumetric spore traps. Weather data were obtained from the sites nearest to the pollen traps. The timing of birch pollen seasons is known to depend mostly on a non-linear balance between the winter chilling required to break dormancy, and spring temperatures. Pollen start dates and monthly mean temperatures for January through to May were compiled to 5-year running means to examine trends. The start dates for the next 10 years were calculated from regression equations for each site, on the speculative basis that the current trends would continue. The analyses show regional contrasts. Kevo shows a marked trend towards cooler springs and later starts. If this continues the mean start date will become about 6 days later over the next 10 years. Turku exhibits cyclic patterns in start dates. A current trend towards earlier starts is expected to continue until 2007, followed by another fluctuation. London, Brussels, Zurich and Vienna show very similar patterns in the trends towards earlier start dates. If the trend continues the mean start dates at these sites will advance by about 6 days over the next 10 years. Following this work, amendments will be needed to pollen calendars and local predictive models. It will also be important to assess the implications of earlier seasons for allergy sufferers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two particle samplers for ambient air, situated together: a static size-selective bioaerosol sampler (SSBAS) and a Burkard pollen and spore trap were compared in sampling intact birch pollen grains through one flowering period of Betula (a total of 44 days). The SSBAS trapped pollen grains three times more efficiently than the Burkard trap, but the variations in pollen counts were significantly correlated. In contrast, birch pollen antigenic activity and the pollen count in the Burkard samples were not closely correlated. The antigenic concentration was occasionally high both before and after the pollination period. There was a high birch pollen antigenic activity in particle size classes where intact pollen grains were absent, even on days when the pollen count was very low. Correspondingly, on days with high birch pollen counts in the air, pollen antigenic activity was on several occasions low, indicating that pollen grains were empty of antigenic material. The small particle size classes are especially important to allergic patients because they are able to penetrate immediately into the alveoli and provoke asthmatic reactions. Therefore, aerobiological information systems based on pollen and spore counts should be supplemented with information concerning antigenic activities in the air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen and spore counts from Burkard traps for routine pollen H.n6 spore sampling placed at 15 m above ground and at ground level were compared. Daily counts of most pollen types were higher on the ground than at roof level, but the counts were significantly correlated. The ratios of pollen frequencies at high and low levels varied between 1.0 and 11.5. The most prominent differences were recorded for herbaceous pollen (e.g. Artemisia counts 11.5 and Poaceae counts 4.4 times higher at ground level) and in Botrytis and Ustilaginales spores. Tree pollen grains and basidiomycetous spores were more equally distributed. Wind speed did not affect the variation of pollen frequencies at either height. Large spores are not so unevenly distributed as previously supposed. Artemisia and grass pollen was detected 1 to 2 weeks earlier at ground level than on the roof. It is therefore concluded that especially the beginning of flowering should be monitored at a low level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The penetration of Cladosporium spores and spore aggregates into human airways was studied using three different spore sampling methods: 1) a Burkard spore trap for determining the aggregation degree of Cladosporium; two samplers, simulating the human respiratory system, 2) a 6-stage Andersen 2000 sampler, and 3) a new size-selective bioaerosol sampler (SSBAS), designed specifically for immunochemical and chemical analyses. The aggregation degree of Cladosporium spores varied between 1.0 and 1.3 spores per dispersal unit. Grouping seems to be of little if any importance to the penetration ability of Cladosporium spores into the respiratory tract. The distribution of spores in the Andersen and SSBAS differed significantly in the largest size class (spores > 7 &micr;m in diameter); with the Andersen sampler only 10.8% of the spores were detected in stage 1, compared with 43% with the SSBAS. On the Andersen culture plates 95% of all colonies were detected in stages 1-4, where particles > 2.1 µm in diameter are trapped. In the SSBAS altogether 99.4% of spores were found in the first two filter stages (cutoff point approx. 2.5 µm in diameter). Conclusions regarding the penetration of spores to the lungs on the basis of aerobiological results should always be based on the use of properly calibrated spore traps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most inviable spore counts of outdoor air in Europe are based on Burkard spore trap results. For viable counts different kinds of slit samplers and Andersen sampler are used. Results of viable and inviable sampling methods are not completely comparable, but the results complete each other. Spore frequencies in outdoor air ate almost equal in different Nordic countries. Cladosporium is the most important spore type everywhere. In South Finland it accounts for ca. 85% of viable and ca. 50% inviable spore counts. The frequencies are lower in the country than in town. Cladosporium frequencies decrease northwards so that in Lapland the percentage is only ca. 5 and the maxima are ¼-⅕ of those in South Finland. The frequencies of Alternaria spores are 4-5 times lower in Nordic countries than in Middle Europe. E.g. in Turku weekly maxima have been ca. 250 spores x m-3, in the country even lower. Penicillium accounts for ca. 4% of all colonies in viable counts in South Finland, Botrytis 2%, and yeasts also ca. 2%. The most important yeasts are Cryptococcus albidus, Cr. Laurentii, Sporobolomyces roseus and Rhodotorula species. Actinomycetes very seldom occur on culture plates, only 0.02% of all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrations of birch-pollen antigens were measured in 10 homes in southwestern Finland, four in urban and six in rural areas. Dust samples were collected once a week with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a special collection device (ALK, Copenhagen) combined with an exchangeable glass microfiber filter in a filter dish. Control samples were taken from horizontal surfaces outdoors. All samples were analyzed by a modification of the IgG-ELISA procedure. The birch-pollen antigenic activity in indoor settled dust was lower than that in dust outdoors. The mean concentration of antigenic activity indoors peaked 3 weeks later than outdoors. The lag indicates that the most important means whereby antigens are carried indoors is via footwear and clothes, rather than, for instance, ventilation. Antigenic activity was still detected 2 months after the peak pollen period. As a source of antigens, both indoor and outdoor dust may be an important cause of pollen-allergy symptoms after the season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High birch pollen antigenic activities in outdoor air samples were found in all particle sizes studied (>7.2, 2.4-7.2,. <2.4 μm and molecular size class, with an ELISA modification), Sampling was done with a low-volume, size-selective bioaerosol sampler (SSBAS) simulating the human respiratory tract in both volume and fractionation; Airborne birch pollen counts for comparisons. were obtained from a Bukard trap. No correlations were obtained between antigen concentrations in any particle size fraction and airborne pollen counts. The meteorologic factors studied differed clearly. Like wise the effect of meteorologic factors differed among the three study periods (period 1, 4 weeks before the peak pollen season, period IL during the season; and period III, 4 weeks after the season). During the peak pollen period, temperature and relative humidity were the most important meteorologic factors Before the season, large and very small particles predominated medium- sized parties being totally absent, The largest size class studied (containing all intact pollen grains) clearly reacted to . changes in meteorologic factors: for smaller size classes these factors were found to be less important, a fact which may make the forecasting of antigen concentrations in the air on the basis of meteorologic data impossible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen of mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.) is the most important allergenic pollen in urban areas of south and central Finland in late summer. The purpose of this study was to investigate, experimentally, whether the cutting of mugwort stands affects its airborne pollen concentrations. Experimental plots were either cut (4 plots) or uncut (4 plots) in 2 previous seasons: 4 of them were small (<0.5 hectare) and 4 large (> 5 hectares). Finally, the plots were divided randomly into 2 groups according to a third variable, cutting in the study season, 1989. Samples were taken on 2 rainless mornings at the peak mugwort flowering time. Two rotorod type samplers were used at heights of 1 and 2 m from ground level, simulating the inhalation heights of children and adults, respectively. The results indicate that cutting mugwort stands significantly reduces airborne pollen concentrations, but the treated areas have to be large, since in the town area there are plenty of mugwort pollen sources. The pollen concentrations at the 2 heights tested did not differ significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the microbial growth inside the insulated external walls as an indoor air biocontamination source. Association between moisture-related microbial growth and microbial concentrations; Presence of actinomycetes in the insulation layer; Measurement of the actinomycetes concentrations in the indoor air.

Infectious viruses and bacteria can trigger multiple sclerosis (MS) exacerbations. Seasonally changing concentrations of ambient air pollutants are known to predispose to transmissible infections, to induce systemic immune responses and to enhance existing peripheral inflammation. Ambient air quality and monthly MS relapse occurrence in south-western Finland were compared by multivariate logistic regression. The odds ratio of the risk of a relapse onset was over fourfold (4.143, p < 0.001) when the concentration of inhalable particulate matter (PM(10)) was at the highest quartile. Inhalable airborne particulate matter concentrations were connected to relapse occurrence. Poor air quality may enhance the seasonal changes in MS relapse occurrence by an increased susceptibility to transmissible infections., (Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel)

Objective: To evaluate the origin and identification of mysterious particles in Papanicolaou smears from healthy, asymptomatic women participating in a local mass screening program., Study Design: The material consisted of 16,000 cerricovaginal smears studied at the cytology laboratory of Pathology Laboratory of South-Western Finland Ltd. Unidentified particles were found in four apparently independent smears. All the slides were rescreened, but no further positive cases were found., Results: Several swab samples were collected from the investigation room, but all were negative. Attempts at identification included numerous consultations. A telepathology consultation with the Cellular Division, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D.C., U.S.A., was conducted. Another teleconsultation with the reference laboratoryfor intestinal parasites in Iceland was conducted. Finally, the Aerobiology Unit, University of Turku, was consulted. The aerobiologist suggested that the particles were most probably summer spores of birch rust fungus (Melampsoridium betulinum). To confirm this we obtained a reference specimen of the fungus from the herbarium at the University of Turku. The morphology of the spore particles was identical to that in the cervicovaginal smears, proving that the smears were contaminated with birch rust fungus spores., Conclusion: Birch rust is ubiqutitous in Finland. Outside the hospital window there is a wide lawn behind which, at a distance of 70 m, there is a forest of birch trees. It is most likely that the rust spores flew in through the open window, to settle down on the surface of material that was used in sample taking. Airborne dust may cause misleading and surprising artefacts. Protection of specimens and instruments against dust should minimize the problem.