Az allergia hazánkban már népbetegség. A megelőzés egyik legfőbb eszköze a polleninformáció. Az egyes városi zöldterületek allergén terhelésének becslése modellszámítás segítségével végezhető, melyet ezidáig csak városi parkok esetén végeztek. A jelen dolgozat célja a modellezési módszer alkalmazása budapesti kerékpárutakat szegélyező fasorok allergén terhelésének becslésére. A modellben a növényzet kiterjedését és összetételét súlyoztuk a szakirodalomban közölt allergenitásuk szerint. A vizsgálat során tíz budapesti kerékpárút fakataszter-adatait használtuk fel. A megvizsgált kerékpárúti fasorok összesen 2355 faegyede mintegy 60 taxonba (faj, fajta és változat) sorolható be. Ezek közül 10 taxon tekinthető erősen allergénnek (17%). Nagyobb arányban előforduló allergén taxonok a kőrisek, a platánfa és a zöld juhar, míg a nyír, éger, fűz és tölgy fajok csak színező elemként jelennek meg. A fák fele tartozik erősen allergén taxonba, ez 1175 db példányt jelent. Közepes allergenitással a fák 31%-a bír (732 db). Jelen eredményeink alapján fontosnak tartjuk a kerékpárutak további fásítása során az allergológiai szempontok figyelembevételét.

Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is considered as an invasive alien weed species. Based on the former field surveys, five million hectares, cca. 85% of the Hungarian agricultural area is endangered by ragweed; while around 0.7 million hectares are strongly infected. Cereal stubble is a major habitat of late-growing ragweed populations. Almost 60% of allergic patients (meaning 1.5-2 million people) suffer from ragweed pollen allergy in Hungary. Pollen concentration was measured in the air using Hirst-type pollen traps from year 2000 to 2016 at 19 monitoring stations in Hungary. A map of the crop types were created, using declared parcels of area based payments, validated by remote sensing data. Linear regression was applied to calculate relationship between seasonal pollen index and crop types at each monitoring stations. Our results showed that the land cover area of cereals, corn and sunflower showed positive correlation with ragweed pollen concentrations. This positive correlation had been changed in 2016 that is why we had started to analyse the changes of the system and their potential effects. Unexpectedly, the pollen concentration decreased rapidly in early September of 2016. No precipitation occurred at this time, i.e. reduction of pollen level could not be explained by the wash out of pollen grain from the air by raindrops. Among the possible reasons, the effect of the newly introduced greening obligations related to the area based direct payments (based on the EC regulation 1307/2013) was concerned. The new diversification requirement under the greening contains the possibility of planting catch crops between successive plantings of a main crops, that is why it have a direct effect on the arable stubble management. It is supposed that the late-growing ragweed populations may be suppressed by the catch crops. In order to perform effective ragweed eradication, further studies are needed to optimize agricultural technologies of stubble management.

The drivers of spatial variation in ragweed pollen concentrations, contributing to severe allergic rhinitis and asthma, are poorly quantified. We analysed the spatiotemporal variability in 16-year (1995–2010) annual total (66 stations) and annual total (2010) (162 stations) ragweed pollen counts and 8 independent variables (start, end and duration of the ragweed pollen season, maximum daily and calendar day of the maximum daily ragweed pollen counts, last frost day in spring, first frost day in fall and duration of the frost-free period) for Europe (16 years, 1995–2010) as a function of geographical coordinates. Then annual total pollen counts, annual daily peak pollen counts and date of this peak were regressed against frost-related variables, daily mean temperatures and daily precipitation amounts. To achieve this, we assembled the largest ragweed pollen data set to date for Europe. The dependence of the annual total ragweed pollen counts and the eight independent variables against geographical coordinates clearly distinguishes the three highly infected areas: the Pannonian Plain, Western Lombardy and the Rhône-Alpes region. All the eight variables are sensitive to longitude through its temperature dependence. They are also sensitive to altitude, due to the progressively colder climate with increasing altitude. Both annual total pollen counts and the maximum daily pollen counts depend on the start and the duration of the ragweed pollen season. However, no significant changes were detected in either the eight independent variables as a function of increasing latitude. This is probably due to a mixed climate induced by strong geomorphological inhomogeneities in Europe.

Long-distance pollen transport can substantially raise local pollen levels, but their relative contribution has not yet been quantified temporally or spatially in ragweed infested regions. Using common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) pollen accumulation at a ragweed infested area, Szeged, Hungary as a test case, this study attempted to: (1) identify, using cluster analysis, biogeographical regions that contribute to long-range transport of ragweed pollen to Szeged; (2) quantify the relative contribution of ragweed pollen from these regions; (3) determine the relative contribution of "local" and "transported" pollen for Szeged. Using the HYSPLIT model, three-dimensional backward trajectories were produced daily over a 5-year period, 2009-2013 for ragweed pollen accumulation at Szeged. A k-means clustering algorithm using the Mahalanobis distance was applied in order to develop trajectory types. Nine back-trajectory clusters were identified. Cluster 1 (direction: from the Channel area south of Great Britain) and cluster 5 (direction: from Northern Mediterranean) were found the most relevant potential long-distance sources for Ambrosia pollen transport to Szeged. Potential source contribution function (PSCF) and concentration weighted trajectory (CWT) values indicated additional potential source areas including the central and eastern part of France, the northern part of Italy and the Carpathian Basin. For Szeged on non-rainy days, medium-range transport is important, while on rainy days the two transport ranges have equal weights. Based on the Granger causality, annual pollen amount transported by the atmospheric circulation is 27.8% of the annual total pollen at Szeged. From this quantity, 7.5% is added to (due to transport), while 20.3% is subtracted from (e.g. because of wash-out by frontal rainfalls going towards Szeged) local sources. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change (20 13) called the attention that climate change might potentially increase the seasonality a nd duration of allergic disorders like hay fever or asthma. Because it is of high importance t o evaluate the pollen exposure of population living in different geographical and cli matic regions in order to adjust information and adaptive measures, tools for calculation and vi sualization of pollen indicators were developed to aid creating reports and scientific pu blications. Taking into account the above mentioned needs climate related pollen indicators w ere developed by WHO/ECEH Bonn Office with the contribution of Member States withi n the frames of CEHAPIS project . In this article we present two new software-based tools for calculate and visualizes climate related pollen indicators: the UNIPHE (Use of Sub-national Indicators to Improve Public Health in Europe) platform and P.E.A.S. (Pollen Exposure Anal yser Software), respectively. UNIPHE platform is available at http://data.uniphe.eu. and the P.E.A.S software is freely accessible at the link http://data.uniphe.eu/software-tools The effect of climate change on pollen seasons The 4 Assessment Report of IPCC (2007) states that clima te change has caused an earlier onset of the spring pollen season in the Northern H emisphere. It is reasonable to conclude that allergenic diseases caused by pollen, such as aller gic rhinitis, have experienced some concomitant change in seasonality. There is limited evidence that the length of the pollen season has also increased for some species. Furthermore the EU Strategy on adaptation to climat e change (2013) called the attention that climate change might potentially increase the season lity and duration of allergic disorders like hay fever or asthma with implications for dire ct costs in terms of care and medicines, as well as lost working hours. The 5 th Assessment Report of IPCC (2014) stated that warme r conditions generally favour the production and rele ase of air borne allergens. Visual monitoring and experiments have shown that increase s in air temperature cause earlier flowering. Progressively increasing temperatures ma y odify the global pollen load (Ariano et al 2010), the start, duration and intensity of t he pollen season are likely to change significantly with the projected likely increase te mperature of 1.8° to 4.0°C in this century (Solomon et al. 2007) thus likely to influence the already high prevalence of allergic respiratory diseases, e.g. asthma and allergic rhin itis and affect the rate of allergic sensitization across long periods. Changes in the spatial distribution of natural vege tation, such as the introduction of new aeroallergens into an area, increases sensitisation (V ltolini et al., 2000; Asero, 2002). The pollen map of Europe is changing also as a result o f cultural factors: for example, importation of plants such as birch and cypress for urban parkl ands (Ziska et al 2003), greater international travel e.g. colonization by ragweed i n France, northern Italy, Austria, Hungary (D’Amato 2007). Ragweed ( Ambrosia artemisiifolia) an invasive plant with highly allergenic pollen, presents important health risks n many parts of Europe (Cecchi et al., 2006, Rybnicek and Jaeger, 2001, Šikoparija et al, 2009). Adaptation measures identified to date include aero llergen monitoring and forecasting, allergenic plant management, planting practices and policies, access to health care, education and awareness raising. Therefore it is of high impo rtance to evaluate the pollen exposure of population living in different geographical and cli matic regions in order to adjust information and adaptive measures. The development of climate related indicators Taking into account the above mentioned facts and o bservation the WHO/ECEH Bonn Office with the contribution of Member States has develope d climate related indicators within the frames of CEHAPIS project (supported by DG Sanco) . Four allergen plants were selected for the indicato rs: (a) Alder/ Alnus; (b) Birch/Betula; (c) Grasses/Poaceae; and (d) Ragweed/ Ambrosia (Páldy et al. 2014). Those stand for high sensitisation rates, fairly good European both geog raphical (from Nordic to Mediterranean countries) and temporal coverage of the flowering s eason from spring to autumn. The pollen out of the selected indicator taxa: lder (Alnus) and birch (Betula), cause serious health problems, primarily in the northern and north-weste rn parts of Europe, but also in Hungary. Their pollination period is important in relation t o he impacts of climate change. The third indicator is the family of true grasses (Poaceae). Due to the large number of species with in the family, their blooming and pollen season is lon g. Their effects are felt mostly in the atlantic, continental, and mediterranean regions. T he fourth indicator is ragweed (Ambrosia), and especially the common ragweed ( Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.). The reason why it was selected is because its pollen is strongly allergen ic, and also because, as an invasive weed, it causes significant agricultural damage, especially in Central Europe. The indicator set is based on daily airborne pollen immission measurements in continuous volumetric samplers (e.g. Hirst type, Burkard) by s tandard methods. The data of the existing monitoring stations representing different climatic regions of the country is recommended to be used. Each climatic zone needs to be characteriz ed by a sufficient number of stations. Only data from stations located in populated areas are r ecommended to be used in the analysis. Census data for the smallest territorial units avai l ble is used to estimate the population living in a defined area (usually within 10-30 km radius) of each station depending on the local geographical situation as well the from the distanc e between monitoring stations. The indicators used for each of the above mentioned taxa are the following: the beginning, the end, and the length of the pollen season ; the yearly maximum pollen concentration; and the total pollen load (number of pollen grains/m ). The beginning of the season is the day of the year when the pollen count reached or exceed ed 1% of the yearly total pollen count. According to the definition, the end of the season is the day of the year when the yearly pollen count reached 99% of the cumulative pollen count. 1 Climate Change, Environment and Health Action Plan and Information System CEHAPIS Co-funded by EC DG Sanco SPC 2007WHO03 In case of the especially significant ragweed, oth er parameters characterising the population exposure are also available. These are th population weighted average pollen concentration, the weighted length of the pollen se ason, and the weighted proportion of allergenic days. These complex indicators aim to estimate the aller genic effect while taking into account the potential exposure of the populati on. An interactive information platform to visualise the climate specific pollen indicators The pollen reports of the Hungarian Aerobiological Network (coordinated by the National Institute of Environmental Health, Budapest, NIEH) use parameters describing the extent of pollen exposures (e.g. country average, weekly a verage, weekly maximum pollen concentration). However, the time and length of the season and the geographic distribution of the pollen concentration must also be taken into ac count in order to better assess the pollen exposure of the population. Until 2011, these param eters were only available in the yearly reports, but due to our developments, they are now available throughout the season. The UNIPHE (Use of Sub-national Indicators to Improve P ublic Health in Europe) project 2 was started in 2009 with the co-operation of six Member States of the EU in order to develop and apply countryand smaller scale environmental heal t indicators. The geographic system is based on the Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics (NUTS). The role of the Hungarian partner (NIEH) was to establish a databas e at subnational level synchronised with the Environment and Health Information System (ENHI S) and to develop an online, interactive data-retrieval web surface for this dat ab se. The application is available under http://data.uniphe.eu. Concerning the above described four indicator taxa information is available for almost the entire period of the monitoring activity of the Aerobiology Network through the UNIPHE application. The database, undergone a data cle ning process (screening, verification) contains the daily pollen concentrati on data of 18 stations from 1999 to 2014, updated annually. The pollen counts on days being o ut of the ragweed pollen season according to phonological observation, are not incl uded in the UNIPHE database. The data can be accessed according to the indicator s on several scales (national, regional, county, settlement), in different time un its, and in different display modes. The three-year moving average option can assist in smoo thing variability, while the national averages shown on the diagrams and the map figure t ype on the settlement scale can help determine spatial variability. This smallest geogra phic scale typically represents the city and its agglomeration with a 17.5 km radius, specified for Hungary, around the a given aerobiological monitoring station (Figure 1). 2 supported by DG SANCO No 2008 13 04) 3 http://data.euro.who.int/eceh-enhis/Default2.aspx Fig. 1: Regional differences in the length of the ragweed pollen season (in days) in 2012 in Hungary by the UNIPHE information system We can access the population weighted pollen exposu re values on larger, e.g. regional (NUTS3), scales (Figure 2). Fig. 2: Population-weighted length of pollen season ( in days) in 2007, Hungary by the UNIPHE information system It is also important to note that at the line chart op ion (on the settlement scale) we can deselect those cities with Aerobiology

Background and Aims: The ongoing spread of Ambrosia artemisiifolia in Europe is an increasing problem for human health and as an agricultural and non-agricultural weed. Hungarian Aerobiological Network (HAN) has monitored the airborne pollen of ragweed for 18 years, these data are a sound basis to create indicators to monitor the changes of the ragweed pollen season in time and space and the population exposure. Methods: HAN has 18 monitoring sites out of which 8 sites were selected being representative for the characteristic macroclimate types of the country. The relevant population was defined as the population living around the monitoring site in a circle of 17.5 km. The start and end of the pollen season (1% resp. 99% of cumulative daily pollen count) was defined, daily pollen concentration were categorised into 7 groups (0-9, 10-29, 30-99, 100-299, 300-499, ≥500 pollen grains/m3 resp. missing value). Two sub-indices were defined and computed by year. Rate of time of population exposure to pollen concentration categories (TR) and rate of population (PR) exposed to different categories of daily pollen concentration at selected monitoring sites during the pollen season TR(x) and PR(x) indicate, what percentage of the total population is exposed to a given pollen concentration category (x) in what percentage of days of the total pollen season. Results: Based on selected pollen data for 2010, 52.2% of the population was exposed to daily pollen concentration over 30 grains/m3 (evoking allergic symptoms in every patient) during 40.8% of days of the season (32 days). 3.7% of the population was exposed to ≥500 grains/m3 (extremely high category) for 4.8% of days. Conclusions: In the future the indices can be used to examine spatial differences and time trends. This project is supported by the New Hungary Development Plan (Project ID:TÁMOP-4.2.1/B-09/1/KMR-2010-0005).