Prediction of birch airborne pollen counts by examining male catkin numbers in Hokkaido,northern Japan |
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Authors: | Michiyasu Yasaka Satoshi Kobayashi Shinji Takeuchi Sawako Tokuda Mika Takiya Yasuyuki Ohno |
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Institution: | (1) Hokkaido Forest Research Institute, Higashiyama, Koshunai, Bibai Hokkaido, 079-0198, Japan;(2) Hokkaido Institute of Public Health, Kita 19, Nishi 12, Kita-ku, Sapporo Hokkaido, 060-0819, Japan |
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Abstract: | Birch pollen is a very common cause of pollinosis in Hokkaido, northern Japan. Birch airborne pollen concentrations vary each
year; hence, the development of a method for predicting annual airborne pollen concentration is very important in preventing
widespread symptoms of pollinosis. In the current study, we investigated airborne pollen counts and male catkin numbers (male
flower index) of birch in four cities of Hokkaido between 2002 and 2008. Airborne pollen surveys were conducted using Durham’s
sampler, and male catkin numbers determined for three major birch species (Betula platyphylla var. japonica, B. emanii, and B. maximowicziana). We found an annual variation in male flower index for all the three birch species investigated. This variation worked in
combination with the amount of precipitation during the pollen season to influence total birch pollen counts. In conclusion,
the male catkin numbers of three major birch species reliably predict airborne pollen counts in Hokkaido, but only when the
effect of precipitation during pollen season is considered. |
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Keywords: | Airborne pollen Birch Male flower Pollinosis Prediction |
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