Aerobiological behaviour of Platanus L. pollen in Catalonia (North-East Spain)

The aim of this paper is to characterise theairborne behaviour of an allergenic andabundant pollen type, Platanus, in sevensites of the Aerobiological Network ofCatalonia (Xarxa Aerobiològica deCatalunya, XAC). In Catalonia, the mostextended Platanus species is Platanus × hybrida Brot., widely planted inforestry and as ornamental tree in streets andgardens. Naturalised specimens can also befound along river banks.The pollen records analysed are from differentperiods comprised between 1994 and 2000 inBarcelona, Bellaterra, Cambrils, Girona,Lleida, Manresa and Tarragona. All data wereobtained using seven-day volumetric spore Hirsttraps.Platanus pollination is concentrated in afew weeks, between March and April. Platanus pollen is present in all theatmospheric pollen spectra for the sitesmentioned above. In Barcelona, Platanuspollen attained the highest concentrations,with an extreme annual index (sum of the meandaily concentrations) of 25790 in 1997, and amaximum daily concentration of 2567 P/m³on 15th March 2000. The lowest annual index(647) corresponds to Cambrils, 2000, and thelowest maximum daily concentration (74P/m³) was registered on 7th April1996, in Manresa.The interannual variation of Platanuspollen values can be explained not only bymeteorological parameters and the endogenousfactors of the tree, but also by human activitysuch as elimination, pruning and watering.