Browsing by Author "Camacho, Irene Câmara"
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- Airborne pollen in Funchal city, (Madeira Island, Portugal): first pollinic calendar and allergic risk assessmentPublication . Camacho, Irene CâmaraIntroduction. Nowadays, pollen calendars are useful tools for clinical guidance intended for allergy sufferers, because they can be used to prevent and manage allergic respiratory diseases, thus improving the quality of life. Objectives. An aeropalinological study was performed in the city of Funchal with the purpose of establishing a pollen calendar and determining allergic risk, based on a seven year study (2003–2009). Material and Methods. The airborne pollen monitoring was carried out with a Hirst type volumetric spore trap, following well-established guidelines. Results. The mean annual pollen index was 1,635.09 and comprised 42 different pollen types. Airborne pollen levels were higher between March – June, accounting for 57.9% of the annual counts. Arboreal pollen grains (52.72%) prevailed in the atmosphere together with herbs and grasses (44.64%), while fern spores (2.29%) and unidentified pollen (0.35%) were scarce. The main pollen types were Urticaceae (20.64%), Poaceae (16.02%), Cupressaceae (13.61%), Pinaceae (9.07%), Myrtaceae (5.93%) and Ericaceae (5.02%). The pollen calendar comprised a total of 14 taxa and is similar to Mediterranean regions, with the exception of Olea europaea, Quercus sp., Betula sp. and Alnus sp. pollen types which are rare or absent. The main pollen season of major pollen taxa is significantly longer in Funchal (on average 239 days) than other European sites, especially for Urticaceae and Poaceae, but the pollen peaks were substantially lower. Conclusions. The pollen calendar for Funchal is the first ever created for Madeira region. Taking into account the low pollen index and number of allergy-risk days recorded (39 days in 7 years), the air quality of Funchal can be considered good.
- Análise das concentrações de pólen de gramíneas na atmosfera de Portugal ContinentalPublication . Caeiro, Elsa; Camacho, Irene Câmara; Lopes, Luísa; Gaspar, Ângela; Todo-Bom, Ana; Oliveira, José Ferraz de; Trindade, José Costa; Brandão, Rui; Nunes, Carlos; Morais-Almeida, MárioIntrodução: A exposição ao pólen atmosférico da família das Poaceae constitui a principal causa de polinose em Portugal. Objectivos: Analisar e comparar a estação de pólen atmosférico principal (EPAP) do pólen de gramíneas das estações de monitorização continentais da Rede Portuguesa de Aerobiologia: Porto, Coimbra, Lisboa, Évora e Portimão. Métodos: No estudo utilizaram -se os dados diários de 7 anos (2002 -2008) resultantes das monitorizações de pólen de gramíneas das cinco estações. Resultados: Entre as localidades encontraram -se diferenças estatisticamente significativas, em termos de índices polínicos, de duração e na data de término da EPAP. Este tipo polínico encontrou -se bem representado nas várias localidades, com valores próximos ou acima de 10% do pólen total. Esteve presente na atmosfera durante todo o ano mas com concentrações elevadas de Maio a Julho. O início da EPAP foi mais precoce no litoral, Lisboa e Porto, e mais tardio no interior sul, em Évora, com a respectiva duração a diminuir de Norte para Sul. As concentrações máximas absolutas diárias registaram -se em Junho e Julho no Porto, finais de Maio e início de Junho em Coimbra, e em Maio em Lisboa, Évora e Portimão. A EPAP terminou em Agosto no Norte e em Julho no Sul. Porto e Coimbra revelaram os mais baixos índices polínicos, com valores médios de 2151 e 1617 pólen/ano, respectivamente, enquanto Évora registou os mais elevados índices de pólen com 16736 pólen/ano. Concentrações médias diárias >25 pólen/m3 registaram -se no Porto durante 23 ± 5 dias, em Coimbra durante 16 ± 8 dias, em Lisboa durante 34 ± 15 dias, em Évora durante 54 ± 9 dias e em Portimão durante 39 ± 12 dias. Conclusões: Entre as localidades registaram -se diferenças na EPAP das gramíneas. É nas regiões do Sul, interiores e rurais, que o risco de exposição a este pólen é maior.
- Fluctuation of birch (Betula L.) pollen seasons in PolandPublication . Puc, Małgorzata; Wolski, Tomasz; Camacho, Irene Câmara; Myszkowska, Dorota; Kasprzyk, Idalia; Grewling, Łukasz; Nowak, Małgorzata; Weryszko-Chmielewska, Elżbieta; Piotrowska-Weryszko, Krystyna; Chłopek, Kazimiera; Dąbrowska-Zapart, Katarzyna; Majkowska-Wojciechowska, Barbara; Balwierz, Zofia; Malkiewicz, Małgorzata; Grinn-Gofroń, Agnieszka; Stacewicz, Alina; Kruczek, Aleksandra; Borycka, KatarzynaBirch pollen grains are one of the most important groups of atmospheric biological particles that induce allergic processes. The fluctuation pattern of birch pollen seasons in selected cities of Poland is presented. Measurements were performed by the volumetric method (Burkard and Lanzoni 2000 pollen samplers). The distributions of the data were not normal (Shapiro–Wilk test) and statistical error risk was estimated at a significance level of α = 0.05. Pollen season was defined as the period in which 95% of the annual total catch occurred. The linear trend for the selected features of the pollen season, skewness, kurtosis and coefficient of variation (V%) were also analyzed. During the 12–14 years of study, the beginnings of birch pollen seasons were observed 7–14 days earlier, the ends were noted 5–10 days earlier, and the days with maximum values occurred 7–14 days earlier compared to the long-term data. The left-skewed distribution of the pollen season starts in most sampling sites confirms the short-lasting occurrence of pollen in the air. The threat of birch pollen allergens was high during the pollen seasons. If vegetation is highly diverse, flowering and pollen release are extended in time, spread over different weeks and occur at different times of the day. Flowering time and pollen release are affected by insolation, convection currents, wind, and turbulence. Therefore, pollen seasons are characterized by great inter-annual variability
- Guia ilustrado dos pólenes da Região da Madeira (Portugal). Tipos polínicos com interesse alergológicoPublication . Camacho, Irene Câmara; Camacho, Roberto Alexandre Pisa
- Main features of Poaceae pollen season in Madeira region (Portugal)Publication . Camacho, Irene Câmara; Câmara, Rita; Camacho, RobertoThe pollinic spectrum of the Madeira region is dominated by grass pollen, which also represents an important aeroallergen in Europe. The present work aims to analyze the main features of the Poaceae pollen season in the Madeira region to determine the allergic risk. The study took place in Funchal city, the capital of Madeira Island, over a period of 10 years (2003–2012). The airborne pollen monitoring was carried out with a Hirst type volumetric trap, following well-established guidelines. In the atmosphere of Funchal, the mean annual Poaceae pollen index was 229. The mean Poaceae pollen season lasts 275 days, with an onset date in January/March and an end date in November/December. Poaceae counts showed a seasonal variation with 2 distinct peaks: a higher peak between March and June, and the second one in autumn. The peak values occurred mainly between April and June, and the highest peak was 93 grains/m3 , detected on the 27th May of 2010. The Poaceae pollen remaining at low levels during the whole growing season, presenting a nil to low allergenic risk during most of the study period. Higher critical levels of allergens have been revealed after 2006. In general, the pollen risk from Poaceae lasted only a few days per year, despite the very long pollen season and the abundance of grasses in the landscape of Madeira Island.
- Monitoring of anamorphic fungal spores in Madeira region (Portugal), 2003–2008Publication . Sousa, Lisandra; Camacho, Irene Câmara; Grinn-Gofroń, Agnieszka; Camacho, RobertoSeven years of aeromycological study was performed in the city of Funchal with the purpose to determine the anamorphic spore content of this region and its relationship to meteorological factors. The sampling was carried out with a Hirst-type volumetric spore trap following well-established guidelines. A total of 17,586 anamorphic fungal spores were recorded during the studied period, attaining an annual average concentration of 2931 spores m-3 . Anamorphic fungal spores were observed throughout the year, although the major peaks were registered during spring (April–June) and autumn period (September– November). The lowest spore levels were recorded between December and February months. Over 14 taxa of anamorphic fungal spores were observed with Cladosporium being the most prevalent fungal type accounting for 78 % of the total conidiospores. The next in importance was Alternaria (5.4 %), Fusarium (4.7 %), Torula (3.9 %) and Botrytis (1.9 %). Temperature was the meteorological parameter that favoured the most release and dispersal of the conidiospores, whereas rainfall revealed a negative effect. Despite the low concentration levels found in our region, the majority of the fungal types identified are described as potential aeroallergens. This study provides the seasonal variation of the conidiospores and the periods when the highest counts may be expected, representing a preventive tool in the allergic sensitization of the population.
- Spatial and temporal variations in the Annual Pollen Index recorded by sites belonging to the Portuguese Aerobiology NetworkPublication . Camacho, Irene Câmara; Caeiro, Elsa; Ferro, Raquel; Camacho, Roberto; Câmara, Rita; Grinn-Gofroń, Agnieszka; Smith, Matt; Strzelczak, Agnieszka; Nunes, Carlos; Morais-Almeida, MárioThis study presents the findings of a 10-year survey carried out by the Portuguese Aerobiology Network (RPA) at seven pollen-monitoring stations: five mainland stations (Oporto, Coimbra, Lisbon, E´ vora and Portima˜o) and two insular stations [Funchal (Madeira archipelago) and Ponta Delgada (Azores archipelago)]. The main aim of the study was to examine spatial and temporal variations in the Annual Pollen Index (API) with particular focus on the most frequently recorded pollen types. Pollen monitoring (2003–2012) was carried out using Hirst-type volumetric spore traps, following the minimum recommendations proposed by the European Aerobiology Society Working Group on Quality Control. Daily pollen data were examined for similarities using the Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric test and multivariate regression trees. Simple linear regression analysis was used to describe trends in API. The airborne pollen spectrum at RPA stations is dominated by important allergenic pollen types such as Poaceae, Olea and Urticaceae. Statistically significant differences were witnessed in the API recorded at the seven stations. Mean API is higher in the southern mainland cities, e.g. E´ vora, Lisbon and Portima˜o, and lower in insular and littoral cities. There were also a number of significant trends in API during the 10-year study. This report identifies spatial and temporal variations in the amount of airborne pollen recorded annually in the Portuguese territory. There were also a number of significant changes in API, but no general increases in the amount of airborne pollen.