The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) and Panjab University have come up with India’s 1st city-based pollen calendar for Chandigarh. The calendar is titled on the seasonal periodicities of airborne pollen species was published in the Atmospheric Environment journal.
The lead investigator, Dr Ravindraa Khaiwaal, also Additional Professor of Environmental Health, Department of Community Medicine explains what a pollen calendar is and what is its significance and reports the Indian Express.
What is a pollen calendar?
They give the particulars and timeline of pollens present in a certain geographical region in aa climate. The calendar includes visual particulars of several airborne pollens.
Dr. Khajwaaal additional says that the notion while new in India is frequent in western nations like the US and UK who use the calendar to stop respiratory circumstances like allergic rhinitis/hay fever fantastic environmental concern that desires to be addressed in Indian cities.
The pollen concentration in the air is connected to locally distributed flora in a geographical place.
Importance of studying and mapping pollen concentration in air
Pollen grain plays the function of fertilization but when inhaled by humans it can trigger respiratory difficulties and allergies. Pollens that stay suspended in air situations circumstances like nasobronchial allergy, bronchial irritation, asthma, and seasonal rhinitis. About 20-30 per cent of the Indian’s suffers from allergic rhinitis/hay fever in India.
Key findings of the study are that the pollen grains in Chandigarh air dominate in spring and autumn and this will aid in formulating a policy which will in turn aid minimise pollen allergies.
How the pollen calendar will advantage the vulnerable population
The calendar will aid physicians determine the possible allergy triggers and advise them to limit exposure to higher pollen regions and seasons. Moreover, advisories can be circulated to use protective gear like masks throughout this period.
Moreover, the pollen calendar will aid specialists in designing components avoiding trees that release more pollen particles like safeda, pine, mulberry, congress grass. Non-allergic plant species that can provide an allergen-free of charge atmosphere are rose, saliva, raat ki rani, jasmine, bougainvillea and sunflower.