Effect of Meteorological Factors on the Concentration of Allergenic Pollen Grains in the Atmosphere of Capital Territory Islamabad, Pakistan
Effect of Meteorological Factors on the Concentration of Allergenic Pollen Grains in the Atmosphere of Capital Territory Islamabad, Pakistan
Farooq Jan1*, Abdur Rauf1, Ikramullah Khan1, Muhammad Yasin2, Muhammad Qayash3, Hazrat Wali1, Muhammad Luqman1, Fayaz Asad4 and Muhammad Khalid5
ABSTRACT
The present study is aimed to find meteorological factors affecting pollen concentration in Islamabad. For this purpose, three years data (2009-2011) of pollen concentration and meteorological parameters have been used. Pollen concentration in the atmosphere has been measured using RotoRod sampler. Many plants pollen are allergenic that cause different types of allergenic diseases globally. Pakistan also faces the problem of pollen allergy caused by various plants pollen. Among these allergenic pollen producing plants are Broussonetia papyrifera, Alternanthera pungens, Cannabis sativa, Eucalyptus globulus and Taraxacum officinales pollen grains are dominant. These plants pollen cause different allergies like asthma, rhinitis and hay fever etc. Extremely high pollen concentration in the spring and summer seasons in month of March, April, August and relatively less concentration in winter and autumn season in the month of October, December, January are recorded. These high concentrations are mainly due to Broussonetia papyrifera tree. Meteorological parameters affect pollen concentration in the atmosphere by two ways its production and dispersion. Different meteorological parameters like seasons, mean temperature, rain fall, and wind speed are correlated with total pollen count (TPC) using SPSS 16.0 and MS Excel to draw a relationship between them which are useful for allergy patients. The results showed that mean temperature, wind speed and rainfall are the factors that influence pollen of Broussonetia papyrifera only during the spring seasons and the Dandelion, Cannabis sativa and Eucalyptus globulus pollen grains are influence throughout the year. As a result, the total pollen counts in the atmosphere increased due to Broussonetia papyrifera throughout the year.
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