Aeropalynology
Aeropalynology is a branch of palynology that is the study of pollen, spores and other bioparticles in the Earth's atmosphere.[1] This study includes how theses particles spread, deposit and effect human systems.
Overview
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Allergic diseases are among the most common chronic disorders across the entire world with more than 300 million people suffering from allergies. The most common cause of allergies include pollen, fungal spores, dust mites, insect debris, epithelia cells from animals and etc.[2]
During certain times of the year, flowering plants will bloom more often and load the atmosphere with pollen periodically. But the time of year differ from place to place and differs depending on the geography.
Importance
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Nearly all of the worlds seed plants and cone-bearing plants such as pine trees need to be pollinated and is vital to a plants reproductive cycle. It is vital to study pollen and the animals that pollinate them since nearly 80% of the worlds crop plants require pollination by animals such as bees. Globally, pollination services are likely worth more than 3 trillion dollars. Flowering plants also produce breathable oxygen, sequester carbon dioxide, purify water and hold soil in place.[3]
Pollen due to its abundance and resistance to being destroyed even by rocks are commonly preserved as fossils. This allows paleobotanists to identify which species of plants were in the area at specific times and in what abundance and reconstruct past climates millions of years ago.[4]
Human health
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Pollen has a significant impact on the health of people with over 300 million people worldwide having allergies and related diseases caused by pollen such as hay fever or asthma. Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airway causing a shortness in breath, wheezing, coughing and tightness of the chest. The main cause of asthma is pollen. This seriously effects patients with asthma significantly effecting the quality of life and causing heavy financial burdens.[5][6] Proteins and glycoproteins from the pollen interact with the human immune system to elicit a immune response.[7]
This field is also important for the study of allergies and the spread of disease among people, animals and agriculture.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Allaby, Michael AllabyMichael (2019-03-21), Allaby, Michael (ed.), "aeropalynology", A Dictionary of Plant Sciences, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780198833338.001.0001, ISBN 978-0-19-883333-8, retrieved 2025-05-30
- ^ Singh, Anand Bahadur; Mathur, Chandni (July 2012). "An aerobiological perspective in allergy and asthma". Asia Pacific Allergy. 2 (3): 210–222. doi:10.5415/apallergy.2012.2.3.210. ISSN 2233-8268. PMC 3406301. PMID 22872824.
- ^ "Why is Pollination Important?". US Forest Service. 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- ^ "Pollen: More Than Just an Allergen | Center for Science Education". scied.ucar.edu. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- ^ Xie, Zhi-Juan; Guan, Kai; Yin, Jia (2019). "Advances in the clinical and mechanism research of pollen induced seasonal allergic asthma". American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Immunology. 8 (1): 1–8. ISSN 2164-7712. PMC 6420698. PMID 30899604.
- ^ Martikainen, Maria-Viola; Tossavainen, Tarleena; Hannukka, Noora; Roponen, Marjut (2023-02-15). "Pollen, respiratory viruses, and climate change: Synergistic effects on human health". Environmental Research. 219: 115149. Bibcode:2023ER....21915149M. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2022.115149. ISSN 0013-9351. PMID 36566960.
- ^ Traidl-Hoffmann, Claudia; Kasche, Anna; Menzel, Annette; Jakob, Thilo; Thiel, Martina; Ring, Johannes; Behrendt, Heidrun (May 2003). "Impact of pollen on human health: more than allergen carriers?". International Archives of Allergy and Immunology. 131 (1): 1–13. doi:10.1159/000070428. ISSN 1018-2438. PMID 12759483.
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