A group from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research in Chandigarh joined hands with Panjab University have created a pollen calendar for Chandigarh following a study on the seasonal periodicities of airborne pollen spectrum, The Indian Express reported. This is the 1st such calendar for an Indian city.
People with seasonal allergies have a tendency to endure from pollinosis, hay fever, and allergic rhinitis through spring, triggered by pollen released from plants. The group undertook the study to address these issues, and explored the pollen seasons, the respective intensities, variations, as effectively as aero-biologically important pollen sorts in the city.
The prominent airborne pollen dominating seasons studied have been autumn and spring. The team’s investigation was published lately in Atmospheric Environment, a reliable peer-reviewed international journal.
Lead investigator Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal, an Additional Professor of Environmental Health at the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, mentioned the forest cover in Chandigarh had witnessed a outstanding raise in current years. He described that a rise in green spaces leads to the raise of airborne pollen, therefore rising pollen-associated allergic ailments.
Chairperson Dr. Suman Mor mentioned the aim of the study was to bring seasonal info about airborne pollen to the population most susceptible to allergic reactions, healthcare experts, scientists, and policymakers to familiarise them with the modifications in atmosphere so that additional mitigation techniques can be created.
Dr Ashutosh Aggarwal, Professor and Head of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at PGI, mentioned that study’s findings would improve understanding of airborne pollen seasons and may perhaps aid additional minimise pollen allergies.
The calendar gives understanding to healthcare experts and persons who endure from allergic reactions to determine most likely allergy triggers. This would aid them limit exposure through instances of higher-pollen loads, Dr. Khaiwal mentioned.
He added that most pollen species the study found had higher allergy-causing possible.