1 - Sociedade Portuguesa de Alergologia e Imunologia Clínica—SPAIC, Lisboa, Portugal;
2 - Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas- ICAAM, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal;
3 - Centro de Imunoalergologia do Algarve, Portimão , Portugal;
4 - Faculdade das Ciências da Vida, Universidade da Madeira, Funchal , Portugal
5 - Centro de Alergia, Hospitais CUF- Descobertas e CUF Infante Santo, Lisboa, Portugal
6 - Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central—CH, Lisboa, Portugal;
7 - Nova Medical School, Lisboa, Portugal
8 - Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo, Ponta Delgada, Portugal;
9 - Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte- CHLN, Lisboa, Portugal;
- Reunião Internacional, apresentação sob a forma de Poster, no Congresso anual da European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Lisboa, 1-5 de Julho de 2019
Background: The plane tree is widely used as an ornamental in urban environments and its pollen is considered an important cause of pol-linosis in Europe. The aim of this study is to analyse the prevalence and aerobiological behavior of Platanus pollen in Portugal.
Method: In this study, the daily data of Platanus pollen monitoring and meteorological data, between 2002 and 2017, of 9 monitoring centers of the Portuguese Aerobiology Network—RPA: 7 centers in Continent (Vila Real, Porto, Coimbra, Castelo Branco, Lisboa, Évora and Portimão) and 2 in islands (Funchal and Ponta Delgada, Madeira and Azores islands, respectively) were used. For airborne pollen monitoring a Burkard Seven Day Volumetric Spore- trap ® and the associate methodology suggested and recommended by European Aerobiology Society—EAS were used. The influence of the mete-orological factors on the atmospheric levels of Platanus pollen was analysed with Spearman ' s correlation.
Results: There were qualitative, quantitative and aerobiological dif-ferences among the regions. Platanus pollen presented, on average, the following representation in the pollen spectrum of the regions; 6% Porto, 9% Coimbra, 6% Lisbon, 8% Évora, 2% Vila Real, Castelo Branco, Funchal and Ponta Delgada and <1% in Portimão. In all local-ities, the pollination season was very short and occurred during the months of March and April. Concentrations of this pollen in the air outside this period were minimal. The highest daily levels and levels of pollen were recorded in Coimbra and particularly in Évora. There were significant correlations between their levels and the meteoro-logical parameters.
Conclusion: Considering the allergenic potential of Platanus pollen and its prevalence in several Portuguese regions, this study provides useful and relevant information to health professionals and general population. As such, complains and pollinosis symptoms related with the aerobiology of this pollen type will be better correlated and accurately evaluated.