%0 Journal Article %J Urban Forestry & Urban Greening %D 2021 %T Association between local airborne tree pollen composition and surrounding land cover across different spatial scales in Northern Belgium %A Michiel Stas %A Raf Aerts %A Marijke Hendrickx %A Nicolas Bruffaerts %A Nicolas Dendoncker %A Lucie Hoebeke %A Catherine Linard %A Nawrot, Tim %A An Van Nieuwenhuyse %A Jean-Marie Aerts %A Jos Van Orshoven %A Ben Somers %K Aerobiology %K Allergy %K NMDS %K Passive sampling %K Urban green areas %X

Airborne pollen are important aeroallergens affecting human health. Local airborne pollen compositions can pose health-risks for the sensitized population, but at present little is known about fine-scale pollen composition patterns.

The overall objective of this study is to determine local variations in tree pollen composition with passive samplers and to identify the surrounding landscape characteristics that drive them. In February–May 2017, during the tree pollen season, airborne tree pollen were measured by passive sampling at 2 m height above ground-level in 14 sites in the Flanders and Brussels-Capital region (Belgium). Non-metric multidimensional scaling was used to investigate environmental gradients that determine the pollen composition and amounts. Land cover types were identified across spatial scales ranging between 20 m and 5 km.

The passive samplers detected the same pollen taxa during the same time windows as the validated volumetric Burkard samplers. Using passive samplers, we were able to measure local airborne pollen compositions. Corylus and Platanus pollen were associated to urban areas; Populus, Juglans and Fraxinus pollen to agricultural areas; forests and wetlands were sources of Alnus and Quercus pollen. Salix, Populus and Betula pollen were also mainly associated to wetlands. The landscape context drives the airborne tree pollen composition at a meso-scale (1−5 km) rather than at finer scale (20−500 m). Thus, land cover types (e.g. forest, bush land, agricultural lands and wetlands) surrounding urban areas may increase exposure to allergenic pollen in the urban area, potentially affecting the health of a large proportion of the population.

%B Urban Forestry & Urban Greening %V 61 %8 Jan-06-2021 %G eng %R 10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127082 %0 Journal Article %J International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health %D 2020 %T Residential green space and seasonal distress in a cohort of tree pollen allergy patients %A Raf Aerts %A Michiel Stas %A Naomi Vanlessen %A Marijke Hendrickx %A Nicolas Bruffaerts %A Lucie Hoebeke %A Nicolas Dendoncker %A Sébastien Dujardin %A Nelly D. Saenen %A An Van Nieuwenhuyse %A Jean-Marie Aerts %A Jos Van Orshoven %A Tim S. Nawrot %A Ben Somers %K Emotional distress %K GHQ-12 %K Mental health %K Residential green space %K Respiratory Hypersensitivity %K Tree pollen allergy %X

Background

Residential green space may improve human health, for example by promoting physical activity and by reducing stress. Conversely, residential green space may increase stress by emitting aeroallergens and exacerbating allergic disease. Here we examine impacts of exposure to residential green space on distress in the susceptible subpopulation of adults sensitized to tree pollen allergens.

Methods

In a panel study of 88 tree pollen allergy patients we analyzed self-reported mental health (GHQ-12), perceived presence of allergenic trees (hazel, alder, birch) near the residence and residential green space area within 1 km distance [high (≥3 m) and low (<3 m) green]. Results were adjusted for patients’ background data (gender, age, BMI, smoking status, physical activity, commuting distance, education level, allergy medication use and chronic respiratory problems) and compared with distress in the general population (N = 2467).

Results

Short-term distress [mean GHQ-12 score 2.1 (95% confidence interval 1.5–2.7)] was higher in the study population than in the general population [1.5 (1.4–1.7)]. Residential green space had protective effects against short-term distress [high green, per combined surface area of 10 ha: adjusted odds ratio OR = 0.94 (95% confidence interval 0.90–0.99); low green, per 10 ha: OR = 0.85 (0.78–0.93)]. However, distress was higher in patients who reported perceived presence of allergenic trees near their residence [present vs. absent: OR = 2.04 (1.36–3.07)].

Conclusions

Perceived presence of allergenic tree species in the neighbourhood of the residence of tree pollen allergy patients modulates the protective effect of residential green space against distress during the airborne tree pollen season.

%B International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health %V 223 %8 Jan-01-2020 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.10.004 %0 Journal Article %J Aerobiologia %D 2019 %T Spatio-temporal monitoring and modelling of birch pollen levels in Belgium %A Willem Verstraeten %A Sébastien Dujardin %A Lucie Hoebeke %A Nicolas Bruffaerts %A Kouznetsov, Rostislav %A Nicolas Dendoncker %A Rafiq Hamdi %A Catherine Linard %A Marijke Hendrickx %A Sofiev, Mikhail %A Andy W. Delcloo %K Birch fraction maps %K Birch pollen %K Pollen observations %K SILAM model %K Time series %X

In Belgium, ~ 10% of the people is estimated to suffer from allergies due to pollen emitted by the birch family trees. Timely information on forthcoming pollen exposure episodes using a forecasting system can allow patients to take preventive measures. To date, the only available information on pollen concentrations in Belgium comes from five stations that monitor daily airborne birch pollen concentrations, but real-time and detailed spatial information is lacking. Pollen transport models can both quantify and forecast the spatial and temporal distribution of airborne birch pollen concentrations if accurate and updated maps of birch pollen emission sources are available and if the large inter-seasonal variability of birch pollen is considered. Here we show that the SILAM model driven by ECMWF ERA5 meteorological data is able to determine airborne birch pollen levels using updated maps of areal fractions of birch trees, as compared to the pollen observations of the monitoring stations in Belgium. Forest inventory data of the Flemish and Walloon regions were used to update the default MACCIII birch map. Spaceborne MODIS vegetation activity combined with an updated birch fraction map and updated start and end dates of the birch pollen season were integrated into SILAM. The correlation (R2) between SILAM modelled and observed time series of daily birch pollen levels of 50 birch pollen seasons increased up to ~ 50%. The slopes of the linear correlation increased on average with ~ 60%. Finally, SILAM is able to capture the threshold of 80 pollen grains m−3 exposure from the observations.

%B Aerobiologia %8 Jan-09-2020 %G eng %R 10.1007/s10453-019-09607-w %0 Journal Article %J Int J Biometeorol %D 2018 %T Comparative long-term trend analysis of daily weather conditions with daily pollen concentrations in Brussels, Belgium. %A Nicolas Bruffaerts %A Tom De Smedt %A Andy Delcloo %A Koen Simons %A Lucie Hoebeke %A Caroline Verstraeten %A An Van Nieuwenhuyse %A Ann Packeu %A Marijke Hendrickx %K Allergy %K Climate change %K Meteorological factors %K pollen %X

A clear rise in seasonal and annual temperatures, a gradual increase of total radiation, and a relative trend of change in seasonal precipitation have been observed for the last four decades in Brussels (Belgium). These local modifications may have a direct and indirect public health impact by altering the timing and intensity of allergenic pollen seasons. In this study, we assessed the statistical correlations (Spearman's test) between pollen concentration and meteorological conditions by using long-term daily datasets of 11 pollen types (8 trees and 3 herbaceous plants) and 10 meteorological parameters observed in Brussels between 1982 and 2015. Furthermore, we analyzed the rate of change in the annual cycle of the same selected pollen types by the Mann-Kendall test. We revealed an overall trend of increase in daily airborne tree pollen (except for the European beech tree) and an overall trend of decrease in daily airborne pollen from herbaceous plants (except for Urticaceae). These results revealed an earlier onset of the flowering period for birch, oak, ash, plane, grasses, and Urticaceae. Finally, the rates of change in pollen annual cycles were shown to be associated with the rates of change in the annual cycles of several meteorological parameters such as temperature, radiation, humidity, and rainfall.

%B Int J Biometeorol %V 62 %8 2018 March %G eng %N 3 %& 483 %R 10.1007/s00484-017-1457-3 %0 Journal Article %J Environ Health %D 2018 %T Relationships between aeroallergen levels and hospital admissions for asthma in the Brussels-Capital Region: a daily time series analysis. %A Ariane Guilbert %A Nicolas Bruffaerts %A Lucie Hoebeke %A Ann Packeu %A Marijke Hendrickx %A Koen De Cremer %A Sandrine Bladt %A Olivier Brasseur %A An Van Nieuwenhuyse %X

BACKGROUND: Outdoor pollen grain and fungal spore concentrations have been associated with severe asthma exacerbations at the population level. The specific impact of each taxon and the concomitant effect of air pollution on these symptoms have, however, still to be better characterized. This study aimed to investigate the short-term associations between ambient concentrations of various aeroallergens and hospitalizations related to asthma in the Brussels-Capital Region (Belgium), an area recording especially high rates of admissions.

METHODS: Based on administrative records of asthma hospitalizations and regular monitoring of 11 tree/herbaceous pollen taxa and 2 fungal spore taxa, daily time series analyses covering the 2008-2013 period were performed. Effects up to 6 days after exposure were captured by combining quasi-Poisson regression with distributed lag models, adjusting for seasonal and long-term trends, day of the week, public holidays, mean temperature and relative humidity. Effect modification by age and air pollution (PM, NO, O) was tested.

RESULTS: A significant increase in asthma hospitalizations was observed for an interquartile range increase in grass (5.9%, 95% CI: 0.0, 12.0), birch (3.2%, 95% CI: 1.1, 5.3) and hornbeam (0.7%, 95% CI: 0.2, 1.3) pollen concentrations. For several taxa including grasses, an age modification effect was notable, the hospitalization risk tending to be higher in individuals younger than 60 years. Air pollutants impacted the relationships too: the risk appeared to be stronger for grass and birch pollen concentrations in case of high PM and O concentrations respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that airborne grass, birch and hornbeam pollen are associated with severe asthma exacerbations in the Brussels region. These compounds appear to act in synergy with air pollution and to more specifically affect young and intermediate age groups. Most of these life-threatening events could theoretically be prevented with improved disease diagnosis/management and targeted communication actions.

%B Environ Health %V 17 %8 2018 Apr 11 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1186/s12940-018-0378-x %0 Journal Article %J Aerobiologia %D 2018 %T Thirty-four years of pollen monitoring: an evaluation of the temporal variation of pollen seasons in Belgium %A Lucie Hoebeke %A Nicolas Bruffaerts %A Caroline Verstraeten %A Delcloo, Andy %A De Smedt, Tom %A Ann Packeu %A Detandt, Monique %A Marijke Hendrickx %K airborne pollen %K Belgium %K pollen season %K trends %X

For the first time in Belgium, fluctuations in airborne pollen quantities over a 34 years period have been analyzed. Seven pollen types have been selected comprising the most clinically relevant in Belgium nowadays (birch, alder, hazel and grasses) and others that are known to be allergenic in other European countries and frequently found in Belgium (plane, ash and mugwort). Pollen monitoring was performed with a seven-day recording volumetric spore trap placed in Brussels. We measured increasing airborne pollen for four trees, namely alder, hazel, ash and plane. Although the total pollen index for birch has not increased significantly, an increasing trend in the annual amount of days above the concentration threshold of 80 pollen grains/m3 was clearly observed. Concerning temporal variations, the pollen season has tended to end earlier for birch, ash and plane and the peak concentration of the pollen of plane has been appearing earlier in the year. In the investigated period, the pollen seasons of grasses and mugwort have tended to become less severe. Furthermore, we reported a temporal shift of the grass pollen season, beginning and ending earlier, together with an advance of the annual peak date.

%B Aerobiologia %V 34 %8 2018 June %G eng %N 2 %& 139 %R 10.1007/s10453-017-9503-5 %0 Report %D 2017 %T Analyse des données sur l’allergie en Région de Bruxelles-Capitale - Exploitation de quatre bases de données relatives à la morbidité et la mortalité associées à l’asthme et la rhinite allergique. %A Ariane Guilbert %A Koen Simons %A Raf Aerts %A Claire Demoury %A Michele Rasoloharimahefa %A Koen De Cremer %A Nicolas Bruffaerts %A Lucie Hoebeke %A Ann Packeu %A Marijke Hendrickx %A Bianca Cox %A Sophie Viart %A Charles Pilette %A An Van Nieuwenhuyse %K asthme %K bases de données %K Bruxelles %K épidémiologie %K hospitalisations %K médicaments %K mortalité %K rhinite allergique %I WIV-ISP %C Bruxelles, Belgique %P NA %8 06/2017 %G eng %M NA %0 Journal Article %J Aerobiologia %D 2017 %T Spatial and temporal variations in airborne Ambrosia pollen in Europe %A B. Sikoparija %A A. C. øth %A S. Celenk %A C. Testoni %A T. Abramidze %A K. A. Kübler %A J Belmonte %A U. Berger %A M. Bonini %A A. Charalampopoulos %A A. Damialis %A B. Clot %A Å. Dahl %A L. A. de Weger %A R. Gehrig %A Marijke Hendrickx %A Lucie Hoebeke %A N. Ianovici %A A. Kofol Seliger %A D. Magyar %A G Mányoki %A S. Milkovska %A D. Myszkowska %A A. áldy %A C. H. Pashley %A K. Rasmussen %A O. Ritenberga %A V. Rodinkova %A O. íček %A V. Shalaboda %A I. Šaulienė %A J. Ščevková %A B. Stjepanović %A M. Thibaudon %A C. Verstraeten %A D. Vokou %A R. Yankova %A M. Smith %B Aerobiologia %V 33 %8 Jan-06-2017 %G eng %N 2 %R 10.1007/s10453-016-9463-1 %0 Journal Article %J Sci Total Environ %D 2017 %T A statistical model for predicting the inter-annual variability of birch pollen abundance in Northern and North-Eastern Europe. %A Ritenberga, Olga %A Sofiev, Mikhail %A Siljamo, Pilvi %A Saarto, Annika %A Dahl, Aslog %A Ekebom, Agneta %A Sauliene, Ingrida %A Shalaboda, Valentina %A Severova, Elena %A Lucie Hoebeke %A Ramfjord, Hallvard %X

The paper suggests a methodology for predicting next-year seasonal pollen index (SPI, a sum of daily-mean pollen concentrations) over large regions and demonstrates its performance for birch in Northern and North-Eastern Europe. A statistical model is constructed using meteorological, geophysical and biological characteristics of the previous year). A cluster analysis of multi-annual data of European Aeroallergen Network (EAN) revealed several large regions in Europe, where the observed SPI exhibits similar patterns of the multi-annual variability. We built the model for the northern cluster of stations, which covers Finland, Sweden, Baltic States, part of Belarus, and, probably, Russia and Norway, where the lack of data did not allow for conclusive analysis. The constructed model was capable of predicting the SPI with correlation coefficient reaching up to 0.9 for some stations, odds ratio is infinitely high for 50% of sites inside the region and the fraction of prediction falling within factor of 2 from observations, stays within 40-70%. In particular, model successfully reproduced both the bi-annual cycle of the SPI and years when this cycle breaks down.

%B Sci Total Environ %V 615 %P 228-239 %8 2017 Sep 30 %G eng %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28972900?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.09.061 %0 Generic %D 2016 %T The Belgian aerobiological surveillance network. Overview of the airborne pollen and fungal spores monitoring in 2015 %A Ann Packeu %A Lucie Hoebeke %A Verstraeten,C. %A Nicolas Bruffaerts %A Marijke Hendrickx %E UZ Leuven %K Airborne %K Allergie %K Belgian %K Monitoring %K Network %K pollen %K Surveillance %B Stafvergadering allergie klinische immunologie %8 0/0/2016 %G eng %N UZLeuven %1 37212 %2 25/02/2016 %0 Generic %D 2016 %T Cumulative diversity dose CDD as an integrated measure of human exposure to biodiversity %A Raf Aerts %A An Van Nieuwenhuyse %A Lucie Hoebeke %A Dendoncker,N. %A Linard,C. %A Dujardin,S. %A Verstraeten,W. %A Delcloo,A. %E Marijke Hendrickx %K an %K AS %K biodiversity %K European %K exposure %K health %K Human %K human exposure %K measure %K ON %K Practice %B European One Health/EcoHealth Workshop, Belgian Biodiversity Platform, Belgian Community of Practice on Biodiversity and Health %I Belspo %C Brussels %8 6/10/2016 %G eng %N BELSPO %1 2648 %2 06/10/2016 %0 Journal Article %J Ecohealth %D 2016 %T Short-term effect of pollen and spore exposure on allergy morbidity in the Brussels-Capital Region. %A Ariane Guilbert %A Simons, Koen %A Lucie Hoebeke %A Ann Packeu %A Marijke Hendrickx %A Koen De Cremer %A Buyl, Ronald %A Coomans, Danny %A An Van Nieuwenhuyse %K Allergic rhinitis %K ecology %K Fungal spore %K Medication %K pollen %K public health %X

Belgium is among the European countries that are the most affected by allergic rhinitis. Pollen grains and fungal spores represent important triggers of symptoms. However, few studies have investigated their real link with disease morbidity over several years. Based on aeroallergen counts and health insurance datasets, the relationship between daily changes in pollen, fungal spore concentrations and daily changes in reimbursable systemic antihistamine sales has been investigated between 2005 and 2011 in the Brussels-Capital Region. A Generalized Linear Model was used and adjusted for air pollution, meteorological conditions, flu, seasonal component and day of the week. We observed an augmentation in drug sales despite no significant increase in allergen levels in the long term. The relative risk of buying allergy medications associated with an interquartile augmentation in pollen distributions increased significantly for Poaceae, Betula, Carpinus, Fraxinus and Quercus. Poaceae affected the widest age group and led to the highest increase of risk which reached 1.13 (95% CI [1.11-1.14]) among the 19- to 39-year-old men. Betula showed the second most consistent relationship across age groups. Clear identification of the provoking agents may improve disease management by customizing prevention programmes. This work also opens several research perspectives related to impact of climate modification or subpopulation sensitivity.

%B Ecohealth %V 13 %P 303-15 %8 2016 Jun %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27174430?dopt=Abstract %R https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-016-1124-x %0 Generic %D 2015 %T Analysis of the short-term effect of pollen and spore exposure on allergy medication sales %A Ariane Guilbert %A Koen Simons %A Ann Packeu %A Koen De Cremer %A Lucie Hoebeke %A Marijke Hendrickx %A An Van Nieuwenhuyse %K allergy medication %K exposure %K pollen %K sales %K spores %X

Allergic rhinitis takes a heavy toll in Belgium. Pollen is an important trigger but fungal spores might also influence the onset of symptoms. The purpose of this study was to assess the health impact of these aeroallergens based on their repercussion on allergy medication sales in the Brussels-Capital Region. Methods: The relationship between daily changes in pollen and spore concentrations and daily changes in reimbursable systemic antihistamine sales has been investigated with times series analysis. 8 pollen and 2 spore species were tested for different age and gender categories. A generalized linear model was used and adjusted for air pollutant concentrations, climate factors, flu, seasonal component and day of the week. Analysis focused on the 2005-2011 period. Results: For most age groups, the relative risk of buying allergy medications associated with an interquartile augmentation in pollen concentrations increased significantly for Betula, Carpinus and Gramineae. Associations existed but were less consistent across ages for Quercus, Fraxinus, and Taxus Cupressaceae. Considering a 10 days cumulative effect, the relative risk reached up to 1,11 (95%CI [1,09-1,12]) for Gramineae among the 19-39 years customers. Risk pattern varied according to gender. Discussion: Little research in this field has been carried out worldwide and extrapolation from previous studies is hazardous given the high influence of the local context. This multidisciplinary study is the first of this kind in Belgium and demonstrates the large health consequences of Gramineae and several common tree species for the Brussels area. It distinguishes itself by its duration, sensitivity and completeness of data (any sale of reimbursable drugs was captured, daily data of various cofactors were used). This work opens several research perspectives related to subpopulation sensitivity or impact of climate modification (changes in pollen concentration, occurrence of novel aeroallergens).

%B 27th Conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology %I ISEE %C São Paulo, Brazil %8 2015 %G eng %& ID: 2015-2013