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Seasonal distribution of airborne pollen in Manila, Philippines, and the effect of meteorological factors to its daily concentrations

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Abstract

Pollen-related allergic diseases are a growing health problem. Thus, information on prevalence of airborne pollen may serve as guide for clinicians to accurately manage allergic diseases. In this study, an aeropalynological survey was conducted from November 2013 to October 2014 in Manila, Philippines, to determine the seasonal distribution of the most prevalent airborne pollen and correlate the influence of meteorological factors on their daily concentrations. A volumetric pollen trap was placed on a rooftop, 21 m above ground level. A total of 5677 pollen grains from 18 pollen types were identified, of which Urticaceae, Cannabaceae, Poaceae and Moraceae were the most prevalent. Other pollen types observed that represented 1 % of the total pollen concentration, in descending order, were Terminalia catappa, Myrtaceae, Muntingia calabura, Verbenaceae, Amaranthaceae, Cyperaceae, Caricaceae and Mimosa sp. Of the total airborne pollen, 87 % were obtained during the dry season (November–May). Pollen concentrations peaked (55 %) during the summer months (March–May), indicating a positive correlation (p < 0.01) between pollen concentration and temperature (maximum and mean). Alternatively, only 13 % of the pollen concentrations were obtained during the wet season (June–October). It was observed that pollen concentrations were negatively correlated (p < 0.01) with rainfall and humidity. As the pollen collection was done for one sampling year, only an approximation of the daily concentration of the pollen types was identified and correlated with meteorological factors. Further data collection is required to generate an accurate pollen calendar for use in allergy studies.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Commission on Higher Education—Philippine Higher Education Research Network (CHED-PHERNET), Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development, Department of Science and Technology (PCCIERD-DOST) for financial support. We also thank the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas Research Center for the Natural Sciences, University of Santo Tomas College of Science and Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad de Córdoba. We acknowledge the technical assistance of Jennifer Maries Yap, Rainier Ulrich Velasco and Joshua Evans Bajao during the weekly pollen sampling and monthly vegetation surveys.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas, 1008, Manila, Philippines

    Maureen Sabit, John Donnie Ramos & Grecebio Jonathan Alejandro

  2. Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Santo Tomas, Thomas Aquinas Research Complex, 1008, Manila, Philippines

    Maureen Sabit, John Donnie Ramos & Grecebio Jonathan Alejandro

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Santo Tomas, 1008, Manila, Philippines

    Maureen Sabit, John Donnie Ramos & Grecebio Jonathan Alejandro

  4. Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, International Campus of Excellence on Agreefood (ceiA3), University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain

    Carmen Galan

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Correspondence to Maureen Sabit.

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Sabit, M., Ramos, J.D., Alejandro, G.J. et al. Seasonal distribution of airborne pollen in Manila, Philippines, and the effect of meteorological factors to its daily concentrations. Aerobiologia 32, 375–383 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-015-9414-2

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