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[ZD22] Population exposure to airborne pollen/allergens
Impacts

Key message
Neutral

Population exposure to allergens has been increasing not only in Slovenia but also worldwide. This phenomenon is influenced by the increase in average air temperature. Higher average air temperature results in a longer growing season and thus the longer presence of allergenic pollen in the air. Particularly noteworthy is to mention the pollen of alder, birch, grasses and ambrosia. The severity of exposure to the allergen pollen of alder, birch, grasses and ambrosia shows large annual fluctuations, with distinct differences between the continental Slovenia and the littoral area. Significantly increased are the air loads of birch (betula) pollen.

Charts

Figure ZD22-1: Annual index of Betula, Poaceae and Ambrosia pollen, for continent and Primorje, Slovenia, 2002-2018
Note:

Annual pollen index is the amount of pollen registered in one year.

Show data
Ambrosia (Primorje)[integral] Ambrosia (continent)[integral] Poaceae (Primorje)[integral] Poaceae (continent)[integral] Betula (Primorje)[integral] Betula (continent)[integral]
2002 649 1093 1115 2413 24 1378
2003 523 1033 1818 3822 317 3457
2004 413 437 1567 2650 167 2366
2005 681 669 2014 2750 91 1823
2006 344 696 2959 2617 222 4190
2007 108 355 1635 3310 309 2103
2008 374 1001 1755 2704 309 2644
2009 47 1005 2181 3079 116 2311
2010 302 1229 2820 3725 465 7107
2011 556 887 3758 3552
2012 620 815 1556 2440 647 8661
2013 310 813 2509 4579 249 5458
2014 344 702 2567 3421 508 4422
2015 442 829 3988 5070 182 4271
2016 872 842 2269 3193 436 6795
2017 223 809 1984 2927 390 4087
2018 1275 1046 1219 3745 181 4070
Figure ZD22-2: Length of the grass pollen season in relation to the expression of pollen-induced hay fever, Slovenia, 2004-2018 (number of days)
Show data
Izola[number of days] Maribor[number of days] Ljubljana[number of days]
2004 141 129 102
2005 147 69 96
2006 158 132 84
2007 104 102 111
2008 153 136 120
2009 162 126 144
2010 161 130 136
2011 141 133
2012 153 128 141
2013 164 139 110
2014 163 136 136
2015 168 142 141
2016 159 155 152
2017 106 136 108
2018 168 122 114
Figure ZD22-3: Grass pollen calendar for Ljubljana, Maribor and Izola, 2004-2018
Show data
Figure ZD22-4: The start day of the birch pollen season according to the onset of hay fever symptoms, 2004-2018
Show data
Izola[the serial number of the day of the year] Maribor[the serial number of the day of the year] Ljubljana[the serial number of the day of the year]
2004 93 99
2005 111 95
2006 93 99
2007 101 91 92
2008 91 76 91
2009 93 95
2010 106 88 96
2011 88 90
2012 82 83 82
2013 105 105 104
2014 84 91 76
2015 97 98
2016 93 90 90
2017 89 82 79
2018 104 97 96
Figure ZD22-5: Number of days with the pollen load of ragweed equal to or higher than 20 grains/m3, 2004-2018
Show data
Izola[number of days] Maribor[number of days] Ljubljana[number of days]
2004 6 8 6
2005 7 12 9
2006 2 22 12
2007 1 8 3
2008 4 13 16
2009 5 19 17
2010 5 13 11
2011 20 14
2012 10 16 16
2013 4 11 8
2014 5 12 9
2015 8 16 3
2016 13 17 13
2017 2 18 5
2018 11 22 13
Figure ZD22-6: Length of cypress and olive tree pollen season in relation to the expression of pollen-induced hay-fever, 2004-2018
Show data
olive trees[number of days] cypresses[number of days]
2004 7 56
2005 12 60
2006 34 80
2007 12 66
2008 15 83
2009 10 61
2010 34 69
2011
2012 7 73
2013 21 69
2014 11 67
2015 25 87
2016 18 68
2017 16 59
2018 61

Goals

  • Reducing population exposure to allergenic pollen and pollution monitoring;
  • safeguarding citizens from environment-related pressures and risks to health and well-being;
  • improving the knowledge and evidence base for environment policy;
  • adaptation to climate change and raising awareness.

Methodology

Date of data source summarization
Last modified
26.11.2018
Author(s)

Andreja Kofol Seliger, Anja Simčič; National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food; Tanja Cegnar; Slovenian Environment Agency