Association of airborne particulate matter with pollen, fungal spores, and allergic symptoms in an arid urbanized area

• Published in: Environmental geochemistry and health Vol. 43; no. 5; pp. 1761 - 1782
• Main Authors: Ortega-Rosas, C. I., Meza-Figueroa, D., Vidal-Solano, J. R., González-Grijalva, B., Schiavo, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.05.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Air Pollutants - toxicity; Air pollution; Airborne particulates; Allergens; Allergens - analysis; Allergic reactions; Allergies; Antigens; Antimony; Arid regions; Atmospheric particulates; Chlorine; Cities; Climate change; Deserts; Dust; Dust - analysis; Dust storms; Earth and Environmental Science; Emission analysis; Emissions; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Floods; Fungi; Geochemistry; Geology; Heavy metals; High frequency; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity - epidemiology; Hypersensitivity - etiology; Incidence; Metals; Meteorological parameters; Mexico - epidemiology; Mineralogy; Nanoparticles; Original Paper; Outdoor air quality; Particle Size; Particulate emissions; Particulate matter; Particulate Matter - analysis; Particulate Matter - toxicity; Pollen; Pollen - chemistry; Pollen - toxicity; Pollutants; Public Health; Roads & highways; Scanning electron microscopy; Seasonal distribution; Seasonal variation; Seasonal variations; Seasons; Soil - chemistry; Soil Science & Conservation; Spores; Spores, Fungal - chemistry; Suspended particulate matter; Symptoms; Terrestrial Pollution; Topsoil; Ultrafines; Urban areas; Urban atmosphere; Urban Health; Urbanization; Wind; X-ray diffraction; Mexico; Cities; Allergy; Climate; Pollen; Desert dust; Particulate matter; Fungal spores
• ISSN: 0269-4042; 1573-2983
• DOI: 10.1007/s10653-020-00752-7

Studies focused on the seasonal distribution of pollen and spores in semiarid cities are scarce. At these sites, climate change potentiates the emission and transport of fine (PM 10 ) to ultrafine particles (PM 2.5 ), easily attached to pollen surfaces, causing allergen’s release. This study examines the potential correlation of seasonal variations of pollen, fungal spores, PM 10 , and meteorological parameters with allergic reactions of 150 people living in a Sonoran desert city. We collected PM 10 , airborne pollen, and spores during a year. We also studied topsoil and road dust samples as potential PM-emission sources. We obtained dust-mineralogy, chemistry, and particle size attached to pollen by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. Results show that seasonal high PM-loading in the urban atmosphere coincides with aeroallergens promoting micro- to nanoparticles’ attachment to pollen’s surface. A collapsed membrane was observed in several samples after individual grains show the following maximum wall coverage: Poaceae 28%, Asteraceae 40%, Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthacea 29%, Fabaceae 18%. Most of the particles covering pollen’s surface have a geogenic origin mixed with metals linked to traffic (bromide, chlorine, and antimony). Mineralogical, granulometric analysis, and main wind-direction show that two local soil-types are the main contributors to PM. A high frequency of positive sensitization to pollen with high particle loading was detected. These results suggest that climate-driven dust emissions may alter pollen and spore surfaces’ physicochemical characteristics with the further consequences in their allergenic potential. Graphic abstract