Atmospheric pollen in the area of Athens.

In this paper the results of an investigation on the pollen grains in the atmosphere of Athens, Greece, are presented. The work was carried out between June 1973 and August 1974. A gravity sampler, of the Durham type, was placed on the roof of King Paul Athens General Hospital. Slides covered with vaseline were exposed to the air for 24 h every day during the above-mentioned period. After staining , the pollen on each slide was counted in an area of 1.375 cm2 under a light microscope. The results obtained gave an indication of the approximate pollination period for each plant taxon and also the degree of pollen concentration over a particular area in Athens. Twenty-two types of pollen were found. Those that predominated are from Olea europaea (olive tree), Pinus Urticaceae, Plantago (plantains), Chenopodium (goose-foot), Rumex (docks), Eucalyptus and two as yet non-determined types. Most of them are found in the air duing the period March-July.