Relationship Between Meteorological Factors and Airborne Pollen Grains of Kızıltepe (Mardin), Turkey

Abstract

The concentration of airborne pollen is related to meteorological parameters. The main purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between airborne pollen and meteorological parameters in Kızıltepe (Mardin based on sampling from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2011 using a Durham sampler. During this period, pollen grains belonging to 26 taxa were recorded, 14 of which belonged to arboreal plants and 12 to non-arboreal. From these, 9177 were identified in 2010 and 10160 in 2011. Of the total pollen grains, 50,73% were arboreal, 48,65% non-arboreal, and 0,62% unidentifiable. The majority of the investigated allergic pollen grains were from Oleaceae, Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae, respectively. Pollen concentrations reached their highest levels in May. This information was then established into a calendar form according to the pollens determined in 2010–2011, in terms of annual, monthly and weekly numbers of taxa fall per cm2. The concentration of airborne pollen was correlated with meteorological parameters during the sampling period. Pollen concentrations were positively correlated with increasing temperature, sunshine and wind speed and negatively correlated with rainfall and relative humidity.

Keywords

• Pollen, Pollen allergy, Pollen calendar, Mardin, Kızıltepe, Turkey