Environmental DNA reveals links between abundance and composition of airborne grass pollen and respiratory health
Francis M. Rowney, Georgina Brennan, Carsten Ambelas Skjøth, Gareth Griffith, Rachel N. McInnes, Yolanda Clewlow, Beverley Adams‐Groom, A. Barber, Natasha de Vere, Theo Economou, Matthew Hegarty, Helen M. Hanlon, Laura Jones, Alexander Kurganskiy, Geoffrey Petch, Caitlin Potter, Abdullah Rafiq, Amena Warner, Benedict W. Wheeler, Nicholas J. Osborne, Simon Creer
Abstract
to measure the relative abundances of airborne pollen from common grass species during two grass pollen seasons (2016 and 2017) across the UK. We quantitatively demonstrate discrete spatiotemporal patterns in airborne grass pollen assemblages. Using a series of generalized additive models (GAMs), we explore the relationship between the incidences of airborne pollen and severe asthma exacerbations (sub-weekly) and prescribing rates of drugs for respiratory allergies (monthly). Our results indicate that a subset of grass species may have disproportionate influence on these population-scale respiratory health responses during peak grass pollen concentrations. The work demonstrates the need for sensitive and detailed biomonitoring of harmful aeroallergens in order to investigate and mitigate their impacts on human health.