Pollen counts profile in Georgia evaluated by the burkhard pollen trap

Aim and Methodology: The pollen counts in Georgia were studied in 2006-2009 using the vacuum Burkhard Pollen Trap (Great Britain) donated by the World Allergy Organization (WAO) to the National Institute of Allergology, Asthma and Clinical Immunology in Tskhaltubo (Georgia). The dependence of allergic diseases prevalence on the geographic location and some other factors (air temperature, humidity, height above the sea level, spectrum of regional plants) were also studied.

Results: It was stated that allergy to mold fungi and other bacteria more often occurred in the areas with high humidity and the morbidity level with hay fever and bronchial asthma was much higher than in dry areas. In cities situated on the Black Sea (Batumi, Kobuleti, Poti), ragweed is widely distributed, which in the period of blossom caused numerous allergic diseases (allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, urticaria etc.). When ragweed blossom, the quantity of pollen in the air is extremely high and as it is a strong allergen it causes exacerbation and allergic disease in people sensitized to ragweed pollen. The highest percentage of allergy morbidity fall at plants allergens caused by pollen of numerous weeds and plants (pollen of ragweed, alder, birch, maple, walnut, mallow, cotton-plant etc.). In different areas of Georgia people are more sensitive to various plants. In Imeretia region, it is ragweed pollen, in Kakhetia and Kartli – platan and wheat. Graphic chart of hay fever and bronchial asthma morbidity as a rule have two peaks –spring–summer and autumn–winter. It is the season of plants blossom and the quantity of pollen in the air is most high.

Conclusion: The pollen counts obtained using the Burkhard Pollen Trap allowed us to make a pollen calendar for different regions of Georgia thus enabling to perform treatment and prophylactic measures in advance.