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Buters, J.T.M. ; Weichenmeier, I. ; Ochs, S. ; Pusch, G. ; Kreyling, W.G. ; Boere, A.J.F.* ; Schober, W. ; Behrendt, H.

The allergen Bet v 1 in fractions of ambient air deviates from birch pollen counts.

Allergy 65, 850-858 (2010)
DOI PMC
Open Access Green as soon as Postprint is submitted to ZB.
BACKGROUND: Proof is lacking that pollen count is representative for allergen exposure, also because allergens were found in nonpollen-bearing fractions of ambient air. OBJECTIVE: We monitored simultaneously birch pollen and the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 in different size fractions of ambient air from 2004 till 2007 in Munich, Germany. METHODS: Air was sampled with a ChemVol high-volume cascade impactor equipped with stages for particulate matter (PM)>10 microm, 10 microm>PM>2.5 microm, and 2.5 microm>PM>0.12 microm. Allergen was determined with a Bet v 1-specific ELISA. Pollen count was assessed with a Burkard pollen trap. We also measured the development of allergen in pollen during ripening. RESULTS: About 93 +/- 3% of Bet v 1 was found in the PM > 10 microm fraction, the fraction containing birch pollen. We did not measure any Bet v 1 in 2.5 microm > PM > 0.12 microm. Either in Munich no allergen was in this fraction or the allergen was absorbed to diesel soot particles that also deposit in this fraction. Pollen released 115% more Bet v 1 in 2007 than in 2004. Also within 1 year, the release of allergen from the same amount of pollen varied more than 10-fold between different days. This difference was explained by a rapidly increasing expression of Bet v 1 in pollen in the week just before pollination. Depending on the day the pollen is released during ripening, its potency varies. CONCLUSION: In general, pollen count and allergen in ambient air follow the same temporal trends. However, because a 10-fold difference can exist in allergen potency of birch pollen, symptoms might be difficult to correlate with pollen counts, but perhaps better with allergen exposure.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Corresponding Author
Keywords Bet v 1; Birch; PM10; Pollen; Seasonal
ISSN (print) / ISBN 0105-4538
e-ISSN 1398-9995
Journal Allergy
Quellenangaben Volume: 65, Issue: 7, Pages: 850-858 Article Number: , Supplement: ,
Publisher Wiley
Non-patent literature Publications
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Institute of Lung Health and Immunity (LHI)
Institute of Epidemiology (EPI)