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Allergy Plants

Allergy Plants. Allergies. Disease of the immune system Caused by common everyday organism not foreign microorganisms About 20% of the US population suffers from allergies over 50 million people Most common are hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and asthma. IgE Antibodies and Mast Cells.

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Allergy Plants

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  1. Allergy Plants

  2. Allergies • Disease of the immune system • Caused by common everyday organism not foreign microorganisms • About 20% of the US population suffers from allergies over 50 million people • Most common are hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and asthma

  3. IgE Antibodies and Mast Cells • When allergenic protein attaches to IgE, it causes changes to the mast cell • Mast cell releases many chemicals like histamines, leukotrienes, prostaglandins,etc • Chemicals cause the allergy symptoms of • respiratory allergies: hay fever or asthma • intestinal symptoms of food allergies • skin allergies - eczema or dermatitis

  4. Mast Cells

  5. Hayfever • Most common form of allergy • In US, 35 to 40 million people afflicted • Typical symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, watery and itchy eyes, itchy ears • Strongly linked to sinusitis, ear infections, nasal polyps, and asthma • We spend $2 billion annually on medication

  6. Outdoor Allergens Pollen Fungal Spores Indoor Allergens Fungal Spores Dust mites Cockroaches Animal Dander Airborne Allergens

  7. Hay Fever Plants • Produce abundant quantities of lightweight pollen that is dispersed by wind • Pollen can remain airborne for extended periods and often be carried long distances • Majority settles out close to their source • Most important hay fever plants grow close to human populations

  8. Wind Pollinated Flowers • Flowers small and inconspicuous often an inflorescence • Often lacking sepals and petals; no nectar • Pollen small, dry, light, and abundant Stigma Ovary

  9. Pollen Seasons in Tulsa • Trees-- Spring pollen starting in early February through May - greatest levels • Grasses -- Primarily May and June but some continuing all summer • Weeds -- August through October with ragweed the chief culprit • One ragweed plant can release 1 billion pollen • 1 million tons/year in North America

  10. Red cedar Elm Maple Hackberry Cottonwood Sycamore Birch Oak Ash Mulberry Pecan Willow Pine Walnut Tulsa Tree Pollen Season

  11. Oak Pollen - Most Abundant

  12. Short Ragweed

  13. Giant Ragweed - Ambrosia trifida

  14. Giant Ragweed

  15. Weather affects pollen release

  16. Ragweed Forecasting

  17. 2002 and 2003 Forecasts

  18. Current summary of ragweed forecasting • Forecasting model accurately predicted the pollen level on 84% of the days during the 2002 and 2003 ragweed seasons • The pollen forecast was only as accurate as the meteorological forecast • More research is needed on the • effects of RH and rain on pollen release • influence of pre-season meteorological conditions on the seasonal pollen potential

  19. Winter Pollen • No local plants pollinate in the winter • Every winter pollen has been registered in by air samplers • In southern Oklahoma and Texas some plants pollinate in winter

  20. Long distance transport of Juniperus ashei • Juniperus ashei = Mountain cedar • Arbuckle Mts of Oklahoma (500,000 acres) • Edwards Plateau of Texas • Highly allergenic (cedar fever in Texas) • Tulsa allergist reported 15% patient sensitivity • Mid-winter pollination (Dec. and Jan.) • Before the local tree pollen • Evidence of pollen in Tulsa atmosphere

  21. Distribution of Juniperus ashei

  22. Cedar Pollen in Tulsa Atmosphere • Approximately 40% of days in December and January • Generally concentrations are low, below 25 pollen grains per cubic meter of air • Usual 3 or 4 days of high concentration • Peak in Tulsa was Jan 13, 1996 with 2411 pollen grains/cubic meter • On-going forecasts for mountain cedar pollen each winter

  23. How distant is long distance? • 27 Jan 99, Jim Anderson in London, Ontario reported atmospheric Juniperus pollen - 58 pollen grains/m3 • Trajectories show that the source of this pollen was Texas population of Juniperusashei

  24. Forecast for Jan 26, 1999 • OUTLOOK: *** Moderate Threat *** Now that we are nearing the end of the season, decreasing amounts of airborne pollen are expected. Mostly favorable conditions for pollen release, especially from the west. As on other occasions, airborne pollen from eastern sections of the Plateau will get caught up in winds ahead of the low pressure system and has the potential to travel very long distances. Pollen released from western sections of the Plateau will move slower after the first 12 hours as the winds weaken and eventually change direction.

  25. Contact Dermatitis • Many plants capable of causing allergic reactions to the skin • Poison ivy most notorious of this group • Typically causes delayed hypersensitivity because the rash takes 24 to 48 hrs to appear • A resin, urushiol, is the actual allergen causing rash, blisters, and itching • Related: poison oak and poison sumac

  26. Food Allergies • Symptoms maybe in gastrointestinal tract, skin, or respiratory • Can cause anaphalixis • Many foods are allergenic - among plants, wheat, peanut, soybean, other nuts, and strawberries are commonly allergenic

  27. Latex Allergies • Latex - milky exudate in many plants • Latex of some plants is rich in hydrocarbons with elastic properties • Rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, is the source of natural rubber latex • Increased use of latex in medicine has brought about dramatic increase in latex allergy

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