Abstract:

Objective  To explore the relationship between the type and content ofautumn airborne pollen and floors in Taiyuan. Methods  Airborne pollens were continuously collected using an exposed glass method at three collecting spots in the same district in the centre of the city from August 1st to September 30thin 2008. The samples were separately placed on the well-ventilated building roofs of the 4th, 7th and 17th floors. Results  The samples were sequenced according to the pollen content: the 4-th-floor (12 meters)＞the 7-th-floor(21meters)＞the 17-th- floor (51 meters).  The content of airborne pollen wasnot statistically different between 4-floored buildings and 7-floored buildings (P>0.05) while it was significantly lower in 17-floored buildings than in 4-floored buildings and 7-floored buildings (P<0.05). The genera of airborne pollens of 4-floored buildings and 7-floored buildings were approximately the same, while of 17-floored buildings were reduced. Conclusion  The type and content of airborne pollens on the 17-th-(51 meters) floor are obviously reduced compared with those of the 4-th-floor and the 7-th- floor. Highrise residential living can reduce the amount of pollen inhalation.

Key words: Autumn of airborne pollen allergens; Type; Content; Different floors; Exposed glass; Seasonal allergic rhinitis