Computational validation of the recently proposed pollen season definition criteria

Abstract

In a recently published paper (Pfaar et al., 2016), a Task Force of the Immunotherapy and Aerobiology and Pollution Interest Groups of the EAACI suggested specific criteria for the definition of pollen exposure times for three types of pollen events: (a) Pollen Season (PS) start and end, (b) high pollen season (or Peak Pollen Period-PPP) start and end, and (c) high pollen days. Species addressed included Birch, Grasses, Cypress, Olive, and Ragweed. Two important questions arise from the aforementioned definitions: (i) do they lead to a narrow (thus well defined) time interval identifying start and end event dates (robustness of the criteria) and (ii) if slightly altered, will they result to a narrow (thus again well defined) fluctuation of start and end event dates (sensitivity of the criteria)? In an effort to provide with responses to aforementioned questions, we analyzed Poaceae pollen count data coming from Germany (up to 40 pollen monitoring stations, years 2012-2016). The analysis addressed all pollen events for the first question, and focused on the PS and PPP start and end events for the second question.

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