Beggs Paul J, Katelaris Constance H, Medek Danielle, Johnston Fay H, Burton Pamela K, Campbell Bradley, Jaggard Alison K, Vicendese Don, Bowman David M J S, Godwin Ian, Huete Alfredo R, Erbas Bircan, Green Brett J, Newnham Rewi M, Newbigin Ed, Haberle Simon G, Davies Janet M
Department of Environment and Geography, Macquarie University, New South Wales.
Aust N Z J Public Health. 2015 Feb;39(1):51-5. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12325.
Allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma are important chronic diseases posing serious public health issues in Australia with associated medical, economic, and societal burdens. Pollen are significant sources of clinically relevant outdoor aeroallergens, recognised as both a major trigger for, and cause of, allergic respiratory diseases. This study aimed to provide a national, and indeed international, perspective on the state of Australian pollen data using a large representative sample.
Atmospheric grass pollen concentration is examined over a number of years within the period 1995 to 2013 for Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, and Sydney, including determination of the 'clinical' grass pollen season and grass pollen peak.
The results of this study describe, for the first time, a striking spatial and temporal variability in grass pollen seasons in Australia, with important implications for clinicians and public health professionals, and the Australian grass pollen-allergic community.
These results demonstrate that static pollen calendars are of limited utility and in some cases misleading. This study also highlights significant deficiencies and limitations in the existing Australian pollen monitoring and data.
Establishment of an Australian national pollen monitoring network would help facilitate advances in the clinical and public health management of the millions of Australians with asthma and allergic rhinitis.
变应性鼻炎和变应性哮喘是澳大利亚重要的慢性疾病，带来了严重的公共卫生问题，伴有相关的医疗、经济和社会负担。花粉是临床上重要的室外空气过敏原来源，被认为是变应性呼吸道疾病的主要触发因素和病因。本研究旨在通过一个大型代表性样本，提供关于澳大利亚花粉数据状况的全国乃至国际视角。
对1995年至2013年期间布里斯班、堪培拉、达尔文、霍巴特、墨尔本和悉尼多年来的大气草花粉浓度进行了研究，包括确定“临床”草花粉季节和草花粉峰值。
本研究结果首次描述了澳大利亚草花粉季节显著的时空变异性，这对临床医生、公共卫生专业人员以及澳大利亚草花粉过敏群体具有重要意义。
这些结果表明，静态花粉日历的作用有限，在某些情况下还会产生误导。本研究还凸显了澳大利亚现有花粉监测和数据存在的重大缺陷和局限性。
建立澳大利亚国家花粉监测网络将有助于推动数百万澳大利亚哮喘和变应性鼻炎患者临床和公共卫生管理的进展。
