A. Rahal, Elias American University of Beirut - Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Lebanon , Halas, Youssef American University of Beirut - Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Lebanon , Zaytoun, George American University of Beirut - Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Lebanon , Zeitoun, Fares American University of Beirut - Department of Pediatrics, Lebanon , M. Abdelnoor, Alexander American University of Beirut - Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Lebanon

Predominant airborne pollen in a disertict of beirutm Lebanon for the period extending from march 2004 to august2004

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Pollen grains rank high among causative agents of hay fever, allergic rhinitis,allegro-conjunctivitis, and asthma. Data on aerial pollen types, concentrations and patterns in Lebanon is lacking. Hence, we undertook the pioneering task of identifying and enumerating atmospheric pollen types in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, for the period extending from March 2004 to August 2004. Our aim was to shed some light on the prevalent sorts of airborne pollen in the city for subsequent studies attempting to assess associations between pollen types and allergic disease varieties. For this purpose, a VPPS 2000 Sampler (Lanzoni. Bologna, Italy) was employed. The daily average number of pollen detected for the span of the study was 41.32 pollen grains/m^3 of air. The ten most commonly encountered pollen types were Cupressus, Pinus, Quercus, Parietaria, Fraxinus, Urtica, Buxus, Brassica, Syringa , and Chenopodium.Levels of the majority of pollen types peaked in April; however, March had the highest daily average record mostly enforced by immense bouts of Cupressus pollen. A pollen-monitoring network is in demand in Lebanon. Identification of airborne pollens in Lebanon would allow allergists to include them in a panel of potential allergens used in tests aimed at determining causative allergens in their patients.

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allergy , asthma , Beirut , pollen , rhinitis , volumetric sampler

Lebanese Science Journal

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