Kazimierz Szczepanek

Variation in Ambrosia pollen concentration in Southern and Central Poland in 1982–1999

The aim of the study was to investigate theAmbrosia pollen concentrations inselected Polish cities and for Kraków torelate it to some meteorological factors.Sampling was carried out in Kraków in1982–1997 and in Rabka in 1992–1996 with theuse of the gravimetric method. In Zakopane,Kraków, Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski,Warszawa and Poznań in 1995–1996 both thegravimetric and volumetric methods (Burkardtrap) were employed. In Kraków themonitoring has been performed since 1994 usingthe volumetric method. The results show theragweed pollen presence in August and Septemberwith the tendency to appear more frequently inAugust in some years. In Kraków (1994–1999)Ambrosia pollen was found either in thelast two weeks of August or in the first twoweeks of September which seems to be a regularand repeatable pattern every two years.Seasonal fluctuations of Ambrosia pollenconcentration do not show a clear increasingtendency except at Warszawa and OstrowiecŚwiętokrzyski in 1996 and at Krakówin 1999. Percentage of Ambrosia pollen inannual sums of total pollen is very low anddoes not exceed 1% except at OstrowiecŚwiętokrzyski in 1996 (1.2%) and atKraków in 1999 (2%). For Kraków theanalysis of some meteorological factors (Tmax,Tmin, precipitation, wind direction) wasperformed. High temperature and lack of rain orlow precipitation correlate well with ragweedpollen concentrations. During the Ambrosia pollen seasons ESE, E, S, SE, WSW, SWwind directions prevailed which could suggest along-distance transport from Ukraine, the CzechRepublic, Slovakia and also from Hungary, one ofthe most ragweed-polluted countries.

Correlation between airborne pollen incidence, skin prick tests and serum immunoglobulins in allergic people in cracowm, poland

Abstract Fifty patients suffering from pollen allergy were observed during the period 1988–1989. At the same airborne pollen content was examined using volumetric and gravimetric sampling methods. The mean daily symptom scores and percentages of patients with symptoms of allergy during the pollen season correlated positively with the airborne pollen content of wild Gramincae and Cerealia (Secale cereale). Skin prick test results and elevated levels of specific serum IgE confirmed the presence of allergy to these taxa in the patients observed. Allergy to tree pollen and herb pollen was confirmed in only 3 cases. Elevated levels of specific serum IgE for Dactylis glomerata, Pltleum pratense, and Secale cereale appeared in 70–80% of patients. Specific serum IgE levels correlated more with skin prick reactions (especially with late phase reactions) than with total serum IgE levels. Airborne pollen concentrations evaluated by volumetric sampling (Burckard trap) ad by a gravimetric method differ in so many deta...

Pollen calendar for cracow (southern Poland), 1982–1991

SummaryDuring 1982 – 1991 pollen deposition in the centre of Cracow (southern Poland) was investigated using the gravimetric method. 32 taxa of the 84 identified were taken into consideration, and nearly all of them can be allergenic. The beginning of mass pollen fall was observed in the second decade of March, and the third decade of September saw the completion of the yearly cycle of abundant appearance of pollen in the aeroplankton. Tree pollen dominates quantitatively.

The long-range transport of Pinaceae pollen: an example in Kraków (southern Poland)

High Pinaceae pollen concentrations in the air and on the surface of puddles before the main pollen season started were observed in Kraków (southern Poland) in May 2013. The paper presents the results of detailed studies of the composition and source of the “yellow rain” in 2013, and as a comparison, the Pinaceae pollen concentrations and samples collected from the ground surface in 2014 were considered. The air samples were collected using the volumetric method (Hirst-type device), while pollen grains sampled from the ground surface were processed using a modified Erdtman acetolysis method. Finally, all samples were studied using a light microscope. In 2013, the period of higher Abies, Picea and Pinus pollen concentrations was observed from the 5 to 12 of May, earlier than the main pollen season occurred. The presence of rainfall on the 12 and 13 of May 2013 caused the pollen deposition on the ground surface, where the prevalence of Pinaceae pollen was found. The synoptic situation and the analysis of the back-trajectories and air mass advection at the beginning of May 2013 indicated that Pinaceae pollen grains could have been transported from Ukraine, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia. In contrast, Pinaceae pollen grains deposited on the ground surface as a “yellow” film in May 2014, originated from local sources.

Early Holocene alluvia in the lower Wisłok River valley and their chronostratigraphy in the light of radiocarbon datings and palynological analysis

Abstract The paper presents the results of the latest radiocarbon dating and the palynological analyses of organic sediments found in the alluvia of the Wisłok River valley between the towns of Łańcut and Przeworsk. The study conducted in the gravel pit made possible the dating of several alluvial fills of the 7–8 m high Holocene terrace and the 5–6 m high floodplain. The oldest channel alluvia and palaeochannel sediments of the 7–8 m high terrace were dated at 10 100–9300 BP (11 960–10 500 cal BP). According to the anthracological analysis the top cover of clay overbank alluvia, which bears charcoal fragments, was deposited in the Subboreal and/or the Subatlantic Phases. In the sequence of the 5–6 m high floodplain, the bottom fills of palaeochannels, dated at 10 195–9885 cal BP (probability level: 68.2%; GdS-3233: 8900 ± 95 BP ) and 11 095–10 755 cal BP (probability level: 68.2%; GdS-3228: 9575 ± 95 BP), were truncated by erosion and covered by alluvia of palaeomeanders, which were active in the 19th century. Preservation of the erosional bench of the Early Holocene organic sediments indicates the predomination of lateral migration of the river channel during the last 200 years and the formation of wide erosional floodplain that has been aggraded with recent flood alluvia. In the 20th century the floodplain aggradation was simultaneous with the deepening of the Wisłok riverbed.

Scientific Conference in Lublin, Poland

Elzbieta Weryszko-Chmielewska1, Kazimierz Szczepanek2 & Danuta Stepalska2 1Department of Botany, Agricultural Academy, Akademicka 15, PL 20-950 Lublin, Poland; 2Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University, Lubicz 46, PL 31-512 Cracow, Poland (correspondence address: Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University, Lubicz 46, PL 31-512 Cracow, Poland. Phone: (48-12) 421-06-76, fax: (48-12) 423-09-49)