Journal article
Airborne sub-pollen particles from rupturing giant ragweed pollen
Aerobiologia, Vol.37(3), pp.625-632
05/05/2021
DOI: 10.1007/s10453-021-09702-x
Abstract
Ragweed pollen is a prevalent allergen in late summer and autumn, worsening seasonal allergic rhinitis and asthma symptoms. In the atmosphere, pollen can osmotically rupture to produce sub-pollen particles (SPP). Because of their smaller size, SPP can penetrate deeper into the respiratory tract than intact pollen grains and may trigger severe cases of asthma. Here we characterize airborne SPP forming from rupturing giant ragweed (
Ambrosia trifida
) pollen for the first time, using scanning electron microscopy and single-particle fluorescence spectroscopy. SPP ranged in diameter from 20 nm to 6.5 μm. Most SPP are capable of penetrating into the lower respiratory tract, with 82% of SPP < 1.0 μm, and are potential cloud condensation nuclei, with 50% of SPP < 0.20 μm. To support predictions of the health and environmental effects of SPP, we have developed a quantitative method to estimate the number of SPP generated per pollen grain (
n
f
) based upon the principle of mass conservation. We estimate that one giant ragweed pollen grain generates 1400 SPP across the observed size range. The new measurements and method presented herein support more accurate predictions of SPP occurrence, concentration, and air quality impacts that can help to reduce the health burden of allergic airway diseases.
Graphic abstract
Rupturing ragweed pollen releasing cellular components (right), viewed by an inverted light microscope.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Airborne sub-pollen particles from rupturing giant ragweed pollen
- Creators
- Elizabeth A Stone - Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of IowaChamari B. A Mampage - Department of Chemistry, University of IowaDagen D Hughes - Department of Chemistry, University of IowaLillian M Jones - Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Aerobiologia, Vol.37(3), pp.625-632
- DOI
- 10.1007/s10453-021-09702-x
- ISSN
- 0393-5965
- eISSN
- 1573-3025
- Publisher
- Springer Netherlands
- Grant note
- AGS 1906091 / Directorate for Geosciences (http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000085)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/05/2021
- Academic Unit
- Chemistry; Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9984216703902771
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