Ragweed (Ambrosia) pollen in aeroplankton of Upper Silesia

Abstract

The work contains the analysis of Ambrosia pollen producing seasons in the atmosphere of Upper Silesia in the years 1998 - 2004. The research was carried out applying a volumetric method (Burkard pollen sampler) in Sosnowiec and the gravimetric method, for comparative purposes, in Sosnowiec, Będzin, Czeladź and Katowice. The highest pollen concentration in the research years was found in Sosnowiec and in 1999 in Czeladź. The ambrosia pollen in aeroplankton was noticed in the first ten days of August until the middle of October. The maximum pollen concentrations were from 16 August to 21 September. The highest pollen concentration was found in 1999 and 2002 (222 and 127 grains per 1m3 per 24h) on September 4th, the lowest concentration in 2001. Two genera - Ambrosia artemisiifolia and A. psilostachya - can be found over an area of Upper Silesia. They constitute the main source of pollen in aeroplankton, but its transportation from distant areas cannot be excluded. The pollen of these plants can be transported by the wind from neighbouring countries (the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Hungary).

Keywords

• aeroplankton
• pollen count
• pollen seasons
• Ambrosia