Pollen Grains in the House Dust of Kayseri, Turkey

Abstract

As most people spend most of their time indoors, a considerable amount of attention has focused in recent years on human exposure to allergens of dust mite, cockroach, cat, and dog. However, little is known about the concentrations of pollen allergen in their homes. To the aim was identify indoor pollen grains during and out of pollination season in the Kayseri city. For their percentage values, pollen season periods and pollen concentration. Pollen grains from 46 taxa were identifi ed over one year period.25 taxa were of arboreal plants, whereas the others were of non-arboreal plants. The distribution of total pollen grains [grains/cm2]was as follows: arboreal plants and shrubs 31 %, herbaceous plants including Poaceae 20 %, other herbaceous plants 35 % and undetermined as 14 %. Pollen concentrations began to increase in April, reached their maximum level in May. The pollen calendar including all recorded pollen grains was displayed. Although we known how the allergens in settled dust are equilibrated with those in the atmosphere, the considerable high level of pollen in indoor dust even during periods when no pollen is present in the atmosphere may be an important cause of pollen allergy symptoms out of pollination season.