The first approach towards recognising allergy-provoking flora in Belluno and its relationship with allergic phenomena

Summary The town of Belluno has a high number of wild and cultivated plants whose pollen has various degrees of importance from an allergological point of view.In this preliminary study we have taken into consideration the distribution and the flowering period of these species, correlating them with the data on the quantity and type of pollen collected by a sampler placed on the roof of the City Hospital, and also with the results of the allergometric tests (Prick Tests) carried out in the Broncho-Pneumological Department during the first 9 months of 1990.The wild specis of spring-flowering trees which can be found in the woods surrounding the city (Fagaceae, Betulaceae, Corylaceae) and along the gravel banks of the Piave river (Salicaceae) as well as the Graminaceae which are widespread both in the urban area and in the fields outside the city and some cultivated species (Robinia, Tilia, Acer) which flower a little later, are the species which produce most pollen and which are held responsible for allergies. However, only the pollen of the Graminaceae gave rise to cases of mono-sensitivity (16%) (apart from one case of Betulaceae and Corylaceae and one case ofArtemisia as well asDermatophagoides) (9.7%). For the other species, the positive reactions were associated with the positive reactions to the pollen of other species belonging to different families and/or to other factors.     

Daily patterns of mixing and nutrient concentrations during early autumn circulation in a small sheltered lake

1. Autumn circulation in lakes is currently conceived to occur very rapidly, being controlled mainly by wind‐power dynamics, decreasing irradiance and heat flux. In addition, autumn mixing is usually related to nutrient redistribution in the vertical column, resulting in its overall increase. To test these assumptions, mixing and nutrient dynamics in a Spanish small, wind‐sheltered, mesotrophic, seepage lake were studied daily during autumn circulation. 2. The seasonal erosion of the pycnocline in Las Madres Lake was the outcome of vertical and horizontal exchanges of heat and matter. The overall mixing of the water column lasted 3 months, which was an unexpected period for a rather shallow lake. Two periods of mixing could be envisaged until full circulation was attained. First, a slightly faster period of pycnocline deepening than that predicted by the heat flux and wind stress model of Fisher et al. (1979) occurred for 41 days, mixing most of the water column down to within two meters of the bottom. Then a much slower process took place promoting frequent instability of the bottom layer and resulting in entire mixing in a further 52 days. 3. Vertically, the whole mixing process was a response to weak surface cooling, resulting from the mild air temperatures of the semiarid climate of the area, and weak wind stress, because of low wind fetch and high shelter. Horizontally, a gravity current transporting cold, denser water from western shallower areas of the lake and materials produced by the decomposition of organic matter of littoral origin may produce a bottom layer of increased density, thus impinging on vertical stability. Seepage inputs of water of roughly constant temperature might also have increased bottom density. Bottom density enhancement resulted in a double diffusion process. 4. Only in‐lake nitrogen content increased until full circulation was attained, whereas carbon showed no trend and phosphorus declined. External processes, such as seepage exchange and atmospheric deposition, coupled to internal processes, such as nitrification, oxidised phosphorus precipitation and complexation with organic carbon, might have been responsible for the areal nutrient patterns observed. 5. Our study demonstrates that current models of water column mixing and nutrient redistribution in lakes during autumn circulation must be improved to encompass the effects of external inputs, including horizontal heat and matter exchange.     

What Do We Need to Know about Airborne Particles to Make Effective Risk Management Decisions? A Toxicology Perspective

Epidemiologic studies have shown significant and consistent associations between ambient particulate matter (PM) and a variety of adverse cardiopulmonary health consequences. These associations are strongest in elderly sub-populations identified with preexistent cardiopulmonary diseases. While the consistency of the findings appears to warrant serious public health concern, the lack of clear mechanistic underpinnings (“biological plausibility”) has prompted skepticism of the epidemiology. Toxicologists have embraced the challenge to address the issue of biologic plausibility in the context of the PM epidemiology and are vigorously investigating both causality and mechanisms by which effects might be mediated at the molecular, cellular, and organismic levels. Among the several hypotheses being touted, that involving constituent bioavailable transition metals appears most coherent with the epidemiologic observations. It provides a conceptual pathway that could have clinical implications. To date, the toxicology has involved relatively high doses of PM-metal to the lung of animal models and certainly more remains to be determined as to metal-specific biological roles at low environmental doses, especially in the context of host susceptibility. Nevertheless, the cumulative evidence is sufficiently cohesive to support our contention that metals are likely one important causal factor in the pathophysiological cascade leading to PM health effects. However, it would be premature at this point to consider metals in any risk management strategy for PM.     

Airborne dispersal ofCecropia peltata L. (Moraceae) pollen,a neotropical species,in the vicinity of Caracas,Venezuela

In this paper, airborne dispersion of the pollen ofCecropia peltata L. (Moraceae) in a location close to the Equator is described. The Cecropias are fast-growing pioneer trees unique to the Neotropics, where they grow within a large altitude range, from Mexico to Brazil.Cecropia pollen was the most abundant grain throughout the year. The highest recovery occurred during April–May. As widely distributed members of the Moraceae family and because of their small pollen size, the Cecropias are prime suspects for being the source of inhalant allergens. The numbers ofCecropia airborne pollen grains that were recorded are well above those deemed necessary for human sensitization.     

Effects of gaster extract trail concentration on the trail following behaviour of the Argentine ant, Iridomyrmex humilis (Mayr)

In the Argentine ant, optimum trail following to gaster extracts was displayed to 0.1 and 1.0 equivalents/50 cm of circular trail. Trail following to airborne components was demonstrated when ants exhibited normal trail following behaviour while walking 3 or 6 mm below a 0.1 ant equivalent trail. However, at 8 or 12 mm separation, following ceased, indicating that the height of the active space was ca. 6–8 mm. The average horizontal distance from the centre of the trail at which ants exhibited following behaviour increased with concentration to 3–4 mm beyond the applied trail boundaries, indicating both an ability to follow airborne chemicals, and possibly a non-tolerance of excessively high concentration. Activity of 0.1 ant equivalent trails on filter paper declined to about half the original level by four hours; after eight hours, responses were significantly different from, but almost as low as, solvent controls.     

Chemical characterization of airborne bacteria using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRS)

In this study, the chemical characterization of airborne bacteria is explored using X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRS). Samples were taken by using a 6-stage Andersen impactor. Airborne bacteria were collected on nutrient media in Petri dishes located on all impactor stages. On the basis of the obtained XPS spectra the ratios of N/C, O/C, and P/C were calculated for 11 Gram-positive and 4 Gram-negative strains. The results agree well with the data obtained by others for the test microorganisms/stock cultures. It is concluded that XPS analysis might be applied for identification of airborne bacterial strains and species but rather in conjunction with different techniques. Especially, a complementary method to XPS seems to be FTIRS.     

Aerobiology of Fagaceae pollen in Trieste (NE Italy)

The aerobiological behaviour of Fagaceae in Trieste and the correlations with the meteorological parameters were examined. Airborne pollen grains of Castanea, Fagus and Quercus were collected from 1990 to 2003 using a Hirst type spore trap. The main pollen season (MPS) takes place in April and May for Quercus and Fagus, in June and July for Castanea. The highest values occur in year 1993 for Quercus, in 1998 for Castanea and in 1992 for Fagus. The Fagaceae content of the air is mainly due to Quercus and Castanea pollen, Fagus usually having a scarce pollen shedding in Trieste. The highest counts of Fagaceae pollen grains are found from late April to mid May and are mainly due to the pollen shedding of oaks. The cumulative counts vary over the years, with a mean value of 2.719 pollen grains, a lowest total of 1.341 in 2002 and a highest total of 4.704 in 1993. No positive nor negative long-term trends in pollen shedding are found. No cyclic variations were observed. Spearman’s correlation was used to establish the relationship between the daily pollen counts and the daily meteorological data. Daily pollen concentrations present sometimes positive correlation with temperature, negative with rainfall and wind speed, and no correlation with humidity. Fagus and Quercus start dates result positively correlated between themselves. Significant correlations are found between the start of MPS and the mean and maximum temperature in March for Fagus and Quercus, and May for Castanea.     

The role of topography in promoting fractal patchiness in a carbonate shelf landscape

Satellite remote sensing has shown numerous aspects of coral reef seascapes to be fractal. That is, they display characteristics of scale-invariance and complexity. To date, an understanding of why reefscapes adopt this curious scaling has been lacking. This property was investigated using high-resolution terrain models built using bathymetric LiDAR soundings of the shallow Puerto Rico insular shelf. A computer-simulation model constructed using simple random processes was adequate to describe many of the intricacies of actual coral reef terrain. This model, based on fractional Brownian motion (fBm), produced surfaces that were visually and statistically indistinguishable from natural seabeds, at spatial scales of 0.001–25 km². The conformity between model and nature allowed us to ascertain the importance of topography as a driver for the fractal patchiness that has been shown to occur in plan-view maps of reefscapes (e.g. Purkis et al. J Sediment Res 75:861–876, 2005, J Geol 115:493–508, 2007). For the considered Puerto Rican shelf, the necessary Brownian-like seabed topography likely arose through karst erosion overprinted by several episodes of reef development. Communicated by Geology Editor Dr. Bernhard Riegl     

Pyricularia grisea and Bipolaris oryzae: a preliminary study on the occurrence of airborne spores in a rice field

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of fungalair spores in a rice field located around Pavia(North Italy) were made from 10th June to7th October 1996. Quantitative data wereanalyzed for the two rice pathogensPyricularia grisea (Cooke) Sacc. andBipolaris oryzae Shoem., causal organisms ofblast and brown spot. Results showed thatB. oryzae was detected at the end of June,reaching its peak in July. Brown spot symptomsin-field were detected six-seven days after theaforementioned peak. Pyricularia griseawas monitored later than Bipolaris as itwas detected for the first time on July21st, reaching its peaks on July 27thand August 6–7th. Field evaluation of thedisease showed the presence of blast startingfrom the first week of July.The knowledge of the atmospheric concentrationof Pyricularia and Bipolarisairborne spores together with a correctexamination of the crops can yield informationabout the risk of infection during thevegetative season, thus allowing for a moreaccurate use of fungicides on rice crops,according to the modern conception ofintegrated control.     

Phytotechnologies – Preventing Exposures,Improving Public Health

Phytotechnologies have potential to reduce the amount or toxicity of deleterious chemicals and agents, and thereby, can reduce human exposures to hazardous substances. As such, phytotechnologies are tools for primary prevention in public health. Recent research demonstrates phytotechnologies can be uniquely tailored for effective exposure prevention in a variety of applications. In addition to exposure prevention, plants can be used as sensors to identify environmental contamination and potential exposures. In this paper, we have presented applications and research developments in a framework to illustrate how phytotechnologies can meet basic public health needs for access to clean water, air, and food. Because communities can often integrate plant-based technologies at minimal cost and with low infrastructure needs, the use of these technologies can be applied broadly to minimize potential contaminant exposure and improve environmental quality. These natural treatment systems also provide valuable ecosystem services to communities and society. In the future, integrating and coordinating phytotechnology activities with public health research will allow technology development focused on prevention of environmental exposures to toxic compounds. Hence, phytotechnologies may provide sustainable solutions to environmental exposure challenges, improving public health and potentially reducing the burden of disease.