Regional Pollen Calendars for the United Kingdom

Background
Pollen calendars are a clear and concise way of presenting pollen season information to the public and health care professionals as well as other researchers in the field of aerobiology. In the UK, approximately 20% of the population is currently affected by seasonal respiratory symptoms from various pollen types including Corylus spp, Alnus spp, Betula spp, Quercus spp, Poaceae & Urticaceae, amongst others. The pollen data from the UK network of pollen monitoring stations demonstrates spatial and temporal variations across the country but there is no scientifically rigorous data to show this regional pattern for all these taxa in a format suitable for the public arena, i.e. regional pollen calendars. The aim of this study was to therefore produce a set of regional pollen calendars for the UK.
Methods
Pollen data, for 2004-2013, collected at UK pollen monitoring stations using Burkard 7-day volumetric spore traps, was used to compile regional pollen calendars for ten years. A simplified version for GPs and general public containing the six most important allergens in the UK was presented. The simplified calendars were presented in tabular form showing coloured duration bars with peak period, mean onset and end dates (2.5/97.5% method), first high day, mean number of high days and seasonal catch, per taxon. A complete data set with additional taxa will also be produced for specialist use by researchers and healthcare professionals.
Results
The calendars highlight the spatial and temporal variations across the UK, indicating that the southern and central sites generally have the longest and most severe seasons, which start and finish the earliest and have the greatest number of high count days. The sites furthest west and north have later, shorter and milder seasons by comparison.
Conclusions
The pollen calendars have highlighted the spatial and temporal differences in the UK’s pollen seasons and provided accessible data for the public and health care professionals.