A method to control the spread of allergenic pollen in archaeological and highly frequented areas

Monuments and archaeological areas are oftencolonized by infesting plants, many of whichproduce allergenic pollen that can causeallergic symptoms in sensitive subjects. Pollen monitoring was carried out by a portablevolumetric spore trap in some Romanarchaeological areas and in two small cities inLatium (Central Italy), before and after achemical treatment to eradicate infestingplants of Parietaria spp. to control thequality of the air. Results indicate that the herbicide treatmentreduced the presence of Parietaria plantsand their pollen concentration in the air inthe sites which were the subject of this study.