Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2012 Jan;4(1):5-11. 10.4168/aair.2012.4.1.5.

The Revised Edition of Korean Calendar for Allergenic Pollens

• Oh JW
• Lee HB
• Kang IJ
• Kim SW
• Park KS
• Kook MH
• Kim BS
• Baek HS
• Kim JH
• Kim JK
• Lee DJ
• Kim KR
• Choi YJ

• KMID: 2130372
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2012.4.1.5

Abstract

The old calendar of pollens did not reflect current pollen distribution and concentrations that can be influenced by changes of weather and environment of each region in South Korea. A new pollen calendar of allergenic pollens was made based on the data on pollen concentrations obtained in eight regions nationwide between 1997 and 2009. The distribution of pollen was assessed every day at 8 areas (Seoul, Guri, Busan, Daegu, Jeonju, Kwangju, Kangneung, and Jeju) for 12 years between July 1, 1997 and June 30, 2009. Pollens were collected by using Burkard 7-day sampler (Burkard Manufacturing Co Ltd, UK). Pollens which were stained with Calberla's fuchsin staining solution were identified and counted. Pine became the highest pollen in May, and the pollen concentrations of oak and birch also became high. Ragweed appeared in the middle of August and showed the highest pollen concentration in the middles of September. Japanese hop showed a high concentration between the middle of August and the end of September, and mugwort appeared in the middles of August and its concentration increased up until early September. In Kangneung, birch appeared earlier, pine showed a higher pollen concentration than in the other areas. In Daegu, Oriental thuja and alder produced a large concentration of pollens. Pine produced a large concentration of pollens between the middle of April and the end of May. Weeds showed higher concentrations in September and mugwort appeared earlier than ragweed. In Busan the time of flowering is relatively early, and alder and Oriental thuja appeared earliest among all areas. In Kwangju, Oriental thuja and hazelnut appeared in early February. Japanese cedar showed the highest pollen concentration in March in Jeju. In conclusion, update information on pollen calendar in South Korea should be provided for allergic patients through the website to manage and prevent the pollinosis.

Keyword

Allergens; pollen

MeSH Terms

Allergens
Alnus
Ambrosia
Artemisia
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Betula
Corylus
Cryptomeria
Flowers
Humans
Humulus
Pollen
Republic of Korea
Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal
Rosaniline Dyes
Thuja
Weather
Allergens
Rosaniline Dyes

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The eight pollen collection stations in South Korea used in this study.

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  Fig. 2 Common allergic pollens that cause pollinosis in Korea. (A) Pine, (B) alder, (C),hazel, (D) birch, (E) oak, (F) willow, (G) mugwort, (H) ragweed, and (I) pigweed.

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  Fig. 3 Correlation between allergic pollen concentrations and air temperature. Pollens were collected at air temperatures ≥10℃.

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  Fig. 4 A calendar of allergic pollen used nationwide since 2004 which uses pollen data collected from 1997-2002.

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  Fig. 5 An allergic pollen calendar for Seoul and Guri.

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  Fig. 6 An allergic pollen calendar for Kangneung.

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  Fig. 7 An allergic pollen calendar for Daegu.

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  Fig. 8 An allergic pollen calendar for Busan.

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  Fig. 9 An allergic pollen calendar for Daejeon.

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  Fig. 10 An allergic pollen calendar for Kwangju.

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  Fig. 11 An allergic pollen calendar for Jeju.

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