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EDITORIAL NOVEMBER 2006 _____________________________________________________ We do hope you will find something to interest you as there are

new people coming into aerobiology in the UK and we need to

encourage them to become active members of BAF. We need all

our members to tell us what they are doing and where they are

going, even if only in a single paragraph.

With so many retirements ‘in the air’ it is refreshing to see both,

that a new generation of future aerobiologists is being trained, and

that some of the ‘long-retired’ ones continue to be so productive!

One door closes another one opens – we report that the ground-

breaking work commenced in Derby by Harry Morrow Brown

(MAARA), is relocating to Leicester to take advantage of the

molecular approach, and so continue to make further significant

advances in aerobiology.

I think we can all take pride in the excellent showing by British

Aerobiology in Neuchâtel in August.

A very warm welcome to all members especially those new

members who are receiving this newsletter for the first time.

Finally we wish you all a very merry Christmas and a successful

New Year and look forward to hearing from you all in 2007.

Julie Corden and John Bailey

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Alastair McCartney ( BAF President) celebrates retirement from Rothamsted

Jon West After a period of good behaviour, Alastair McCartney was finally

allowed to retire from Rothamsted Research at the end of 2005

after serving nearly 30 years. In that time he made a substantial

contribution to the understanding of plant disease epidemiology

and particularly the dispersal and detection of plant pathogens and

other biological particles. This involved collaborations with friends

and colleagues in the various parts of Europe, USA, Mexico, India

and China and culminated in a number of prestigious awards.

Many friends, past PhD students and colleagues, both old and

current, were able to send messages or photos, which were

collated into an album and presented to Alastair at his leaving

party last December at Rothamsted. Alastair maintains a keen

interest in the field of aerobiology but is also enjoying his escape to

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the country with his wife, Sue. He is now believed to be living in

deepest Somerset.

Alastair being presented with gifts and ‘album’ by Roger Plumb

Spot the difference! Alastair’s Leaving Party

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Triple retirement at MAARA Derby John Bailey When the Midlands Asthma and Allergy Association (MAARA) was

founded in Derby in 1968 by Harry Morrow Brown, Julie Corden

had already been working on aerobiology with him since 1964.

She was joined by Felicity Jackson, whom Julie trained up as an

aerobiologist followed by Wendy Millington and others. All three

got on together extremely well and in addition to the actual

aerobiology, were instrumental in running and furthering the

activities of the MAARA charity. All three later interrupted their

careers at different times to have families.

It is an extremely impressive example of the loyalty and dedication

of the staff to MAARA and its aspirations that they all returned to

continue to their careers after raising their families and spent their

entire working lives there – never able to take holidays in the peak

pollen season! Retirement from MAARA – if Harry Morrow Brown

is anything to go by - does not seem to involve a great reduction in

work-load, and certainly Julie is continuing to be very active in BAF

and aerobiology. On behalf of the BAF membership I wish all

three of them a long, happy and productive ’retirement’!

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The MAARA 3 (Felicity, Julie and Wendy) - Julie’s retirement lunch 8th International Conference on Aerobiology Neuchâtel

Geoff Wili, Caroline Simpson, Eric Caulton and Lynn Finnemore

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Jean Emberlin, Julie Corden, Maureen Lacy and Peter Burt

Cat Pashley and Caroline Simpson

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Airborne spores – my story

Maureen Lacey

I was privileged to be introduced to aerobiology by Philip Gregory

at Imperial College, London. In 1958 I ran two Hirst spore traps at

Silwood Park leading to the paper ‘The summer air spora of two

contrasting adjacent rural sites’. Many experiments on splash

dispersal of fungus spores were done in the main hall using an

asbestos pipe to shield the drops from air currents.

When Philip Gregory returned to Rothamsted Research as head of

Plant Pathology, I moved with him and we started work to discover

the cause of Farmer’s Lung, a potentially fatal respiratory disease

thought to be caused by the inhalation of dust from mouldy hay.

We baled hay at different moisture contents and followed the

microbiological growth of organisms by shaking small quantities of

hay in a perforated drum in a small wind tunnel. The spores

released were sampled with either a cascade impactor (visual) or

an Andersen sampler (viable). Hay baled above 40% moisture

heated to 60°C and produced many thermophilic actinomycetes

which also grew at 60°C. Working with Professor Pepys at

Brompton Chest Hospital the cause of Farmer’s Lung was

identified and the disease was able to be registered as an

industrial disease.

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Maureen sampling mouldy hay in the wind tunnel designed by Philip Gregory and used by him, Jim Hirst and John Lacey for much of the early aerobiological and stored products work

While counting slides from Silwood Park I recognised two spores

of Pithomyces chartarum as I had painted one for Philip Gregory’s

book Microbiology of the Amosphere. This fungus had recently

been implicated as the cause of facial eczema of sheep in New

Zealand but had not been recorded in Britain. Using a rotorod in a

plastic shopping basket Philip Gregory caught up to 400 spores m³

air near Ascot and then found it growing on grass debris. He loved

to tell this story as an example of leading a search up the concentration gradient. While looking after the children when they were small I did a little

casual work counting spores for my late husband John when he

was working on stored products and health hazards.

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I returned to Rothamsted to work with Alastair McCartney. As a

physicist he had a different approach but was also full of new

ideas, I enjoyed working with him. I did some work on splash

dispersal but this time in the field and rain tower. Conidia of light

leaf spot of oilseed rape are splash dispersed but we found spores

in the air after rain, often in groups of 4. Philip Gregory suggested

that they might be ascospores, his thoughts proved correct as later

I found apothecia which were producing ascospores. This was the

first record of the perfect state of Pyrenopeziza brassicae in the

UK. We also worked on head and stem rot of sunflowers,

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, which is also spread by ascospores.

My time spent identifying, counting and painting spores has been

very rewarding, they never cease to fascinate me. I am pleased

that I have made some contribution to the study of plant disease

and airborne health hazards. After retiring I continued painting

airborne particles and managed to get a contract to produce a

book on The Air Spora containing these paintings. Thankfully Jon

West helped me finish the text and it was published in July 2006.

Gregory, P.H., 1961, The Microbiology of the Atmosphere,

Leonard Hill, Aylesbury.

Gregory, P.H., Guthrie, E.J. and Bunce, M.E., 1959, Experiments

on splash dispersal of fungus spores. J. gen. Microbiol., 20:328-

354.

Gregory, P.H. and Lacey, M.E., 1964, The discovery of

Pithomyces chartarum in Britain, Trans. Brit. Mycol Soc., 47:25-

30.

Lacey, M.E., 1962, The summer air-spora of two contrasting

adjacent rural sites, J. Gen. Mycrobiol., 29:485-501.

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Lacey, M.E, Rawlinson, C.J. and McCartney, H.A., 1987, First

record of the natural occurrence in England of the teleomorph of

Pyrenopeziza brassicae on oilseed rape, Trans. Br., mycol. Soc.,

89:135-140.

Lacey, M.E. and West, J.S, 2006, The Air Spora. A manual for

catching and identifying airborne biological particles, Springer,

Dordrecht.

McCartney, H.A. and Lacey, M.E., 1991, The relationship between

the release of ascospores of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, infection

and disease in sunflower plots in the United Kingdom, Grana,

30:486-492.

Pepys, J., Jenkins, P.A., Festentein, G.N., Gregory, P.H., Lacey,

M.E., and Skinner, F.A., 1963, Farmer’s lung: thermophilic as a

source of ‘farmer’s lung hay’ antigen, The Lancet ii, 607-611.

Plenary Session of the 8th International Congress on

Aerobiology Congress on Aerobiology, Neuchâtel, 25 August 2006

Support of the Council’s proposal to award Honorary membership of the I.A.A. to Maureen Lacey I feel privileged to have been asked by Council to support the

recommendation to award Honorary membership of the I.A.A. to

Maureen Lacey.

Both my wife and I have known Maureen for many years now and

hold her in high esteem, admiring her energy, determination and

talent as an artist. Maureen spent her career as a plant

pathologist working as an assistant to and collaborating in

research with Alastair McCartney at Rothamsted. She has co-

authored many publications relating to her professional

investigations. Her talent as an artist of no mean accomplishment

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is constantly honed when travelling; pen and sketching pad always

close to hand. Her artistic ability has culminated in the recent

publication of the Air Spora with Jon West (see separate article) –

which I trust members will wish to purchase - once they have seen

it!

It is with this background of accomplishment and her significant

contribution to the science of aerobiology (see separate article),

that I ask members to endorse the Council’s proposal to award her

Honorary membership of the I.A.A.

The 8th ICA in Neuchâtel Switzerland. The UK was well represented at Neuchâtel with many people

attending, giving keynote addresses and presentations. There

was a wide diversity of interesting topics covered including

methodology, modelling and forecasting, climate change, health,

the environment, forensics and much more. Everyone enjoyed the

meeting. Alastair McCartney delivered a Keynote speech. As well

as new areas of research, there was an historical session with

aerobiology pioneers talking about the work they had done. Julie

gave her talk as tribute to Dr Harry Morrow Brown, one of the

founding fathers of medical aerobiology in the UK. There were

other very interesting historical presentations from Ursula Allitt,

Eric Caulton and Maureen Lacey. Unfortunately that other

pioneer, Bill Frankland, was unable to attend due to his health, but

did submit an abstract. The National Pollen and Aerobiology

Research Unit provided a sizeable contribution, with Jean

Emberlin and her team presenting no less than fourteen pieces of

research. Topics focussed on were: pollen forensic research; hay

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fever and exam performance; the aerodynamic properties of pollen

grains; the North Atlantic Oscillation and grass pollen counts;

fungal spore concentrations at Worcester; the severity of the birch

pollen season; personal exposure to grass pollen and particulate

matter concentrations. Jean Emberlin was also involved in the

collaborative work of a further three international presentations. A

series of pictures of the delegates at Neuchatel also appear in this

issue. Full references for all the presentations are listed below.

Full references for all the presentations are listed below.

Relationships between Didymella, an important allergenic spore, and meteorological parameters during 2005 in Worcester, UK B. Adams-Groom, I. Bustos Delgado, J. Emberlin Slightly amusing story U. Allitt, A fungal spore calendar for Worcester, West Midlands, UK I. Bustos Delgado, B. Adams-Groom, J. Emberlin Daily occurrence and variation of the allergenic spores, Cladosporium spp. and Alternaria spp. in the atmosphere of Worcester UK in 2005 I. Bustos Delgado, B. Adams-Groom, J. Emberlin Aerobiological aspects of pollen contamination of bats (Chiroptera) E. Caulton 20 years of pollen monitoring in SE Scotland E. Caulton Aerobiology in Derby UK -1965 to the present day J. Corden Alternaria and Didymella spore concentrations in Derby UK and Cracow Poland- can these fungal spores have a role in thunderstorm asthma J. Corden, M. Tighe, D. Stepalska

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Pollen deposition on nasal cavities; comparisons from the analysis of 22 samples of nasal lavage taken at Worcester UK during May 2005, and simultaneous pollen counts from a Burkard spore trap J. Emberlin Transfer of pollen from woodland soil to a vehicle and footwear during winter months, Worcester UK J. Emberlin, B. Adams-Groom, J. C. Prieto Baena The effects of hay fever on examination and assessment performance in students J. Emberlin, M. Smith

Examination performance of University students at Edinburgh, Cambridge, London and Worcester, UK in relation to daily pollen counts J. Emberlin Measurement of personal exposure to grass pollen measured using the Morrow Brown personal sampler during the peak grass season 2005 at Worcester UK J. Emberlin, H. Morrow Brown Memories Frankland, B. Airborne spores –a personal perspective M. Lacey Molecular Approach to Biodiversity in Aerobiology: A Case Study A. McCartney The variation in the concentration of particulate matter in relation to meteorological factors C.S Potter, J. Emberlin, J. Mullins Spatio-temporal patterns of annual loads of airborne birch pollen in Europe H. Ranta, A. Oksanen, K-C. Bergmann, E. Bucher, A. Ekebom, J. Emberlin, R. Gehrig, M. Hallsdóttir, V. Jato, S. Jäger, D.Myszkowska, A.Paldy, H. Ramfijord, E.Severova, M. Thibaudon

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A wind tunnel experiment to investigate the aerodynamic properties of pollen grains, and the effects of those on their motion in air streamlines D. F-Sevilla, J. Emberlin, E. Schultz A wind tunnel experiment to investigate the aerodynamic properties of pollen grains, and the effects of those in the relative collection efficiency of the Sigma2 passive sampler and Burkard spore trap for three different airborne pollen types (Graminae, Ambrosia and Urtica) D. F-Sevilla, J. Emberlin, E. Schultz Spatial variation in the influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation on grass pollen counts in Europe M. Smith, J. Emberlin, A. Stach, A. Rantio-Lehtimäki, E. Caulton, M. Thibaudon, C. Lachasse, S. Jäger, R. Gehrig, V. Jato, F. J. Rodriguez-Rajo, C. Galán, P. Alcázar The regional importance of Alnus pollen counts from Worcester (UK) and Poznań (Poland) - M. Smith, J. Emberlin, A. Stach, M. Czarnecka-Operacz, D. Jenerowicz, W. Silny Factors that determine the severity of Betula pollen seasons in Poznan and Cracow, Poland and Worcester and London, U.K A. Stach, J. Emberlin, B. Adams-Groom, D. Myszkowska

MONALISA: Monitoring Network of Allergens by Immuno-Sampling - M. Thibaudon, E. Carvalho, J. Emberlin, R. Brandão, A. Rantio-Lehtimäki, A. Stach, C. Galan Soldevilla, B. Clot AEROTOP project (FP6-003170): Bringing aerobiology to Poznań A. Stach, M. Nowak, C. Galán, J. Emberlin, H. Garcia-Mozo, J. C. Prieto Baena, M. Smith, N. Kalinovyc The end of an era at Derby Julie Corden In 1964 Dr Morrow Brown received his first grant after taking up his

appointment as a Consultant Chest Physician in Derby and I

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became his first research assistant. At that time I worked in his

consulting room at Derby Chest Clinic at a microscope learning

about pollen, spores and asthma whilst also working at the labs of

the Public Health Laboratory Service in Derby. I soon learnt from

patients’ symptom charts how to pinpoint the pollen and/or fungal

spores likely to cause exacerbation of symptoms. Dr Brown made

his own spore traps, developed his own counters and

manufactured giant, and timed culture plates. Aerobiology in Derby

was soon up and running with the pollen count being recorded for

the first time.

Shortly after this, in 1968 the charity Midlands Asthma and Allergy

Research Association was formed. Several aerobiologists

including Felicity Jackson and Wendy Millington came to work for

MAARA and all sorts of very interesting research projects began.

I could never have imagined all those years ago that I would still

be working as an aerobiologist at MAARA when I retired. One

thing about MAARA, life is never dull – there is always something

new to explore. Our aerobiological work has always been devoted

to helping those people with asthma and hay fever that are allergic

to pollen or fungal spores.

At MAARA you always develop and diversify your work. Over the

years I have got to know so many people who asked the charity for

help or support, I have given talks to interested groups and

organisations and since the formation of the British Aerobiology

Federation and as a result of aerobiological collaborations and

meetings I now have friends and colleagues all over the UK and

beyond.

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I would like to thank all those people who have helped me at

MAARA and BAF over the years, everyone has been very kind and

supportive but special thanks go to Wendy and Felicity for

supporting me in aerobiological research in Derby and I look

forward to seeing aerobiology in the UK continue to develop and

flourish and hope to see many more young people develop an

interest and career in aerobiology.

New era begins at Leicester Cat Pashley With help from a three-year start up grant from MAARA, a number

of different ideas for novel research are being initiated at the new

Leicester Aerobiology Unit, staffed by Abbie Fairs and Catherine

Pashley pictured below. These are aimed at improving current

methods for the quantification of airborne allergens, and the

identification of allergens that are not currently recognised. These

studies will cover a number of different areas including some of the

following:

DNA based methods for the identification of fungal samples in the air Fungal spores occur in great numbers in the outdoor air. Many

have been shown to be allergenic and allergens from fungal

spores can be potent inducers of asthma and seasonal allergic

rhinitis. Fungal spore identification is currently achieved by

microscopy, however, many spores are difficult to identify so are

often grouped together according to morphological similarities. A

more accurate assessment of the potential allergens in the air

would be of great benefit to many asthma sufferers.

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Modelling environmental factors that influence indoor fungal spore levels The identification of residential building characteristics linked to

fungal spore exposure would be of enormous benefit to allergic

individuals, who would then be able to minimise fungal spore

exposure by careful selection of living conditions. This will be

investigated using portable air samplers in a number of building

types, incorporating a variety of environmental factors. This will

allow normal ranges for indoor exposure to airborne fungal spores

to be established, against which investigative samples of indoor

airborne fungal spore concentrations can be compared.

Investigation of indoor fungal spore exposure in relation to symptoms of allergy Once a base level for normal indoor fungal spore ranges has been

established, the association between indoor fungal spore exposure

and allergy symptoms can then be investigated. This will be

achieved by giving personal air samplers to asthma patients with

or without known fungal allergies. These samplers will monitor the

levels of exposure to fungal spores within the home. This will

provide a valuable insight into causative factors in the

development of fungal spore allergy, with the prospect of

introducing preventative measures.

DNA based method for Aspergillus fumigatus identification. Aspergillus fumigatus is a commonly occurring fungus. Most

people are naturally immune to it, however, when disease does

occur it can take several forms ranging from an allergy-type illness

to life-threatening generalised infections. One such condition is

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known as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). This

condition is quite common in asthmatics with up to 5% of adult

asthmatics affected.

There are a number of patients who appear to have the symptoms

of ABPA, but using current techniques it is not possible to culture

the fungus from these patients. The aim of this project is to see if a

DNA-based technique can be used to identify the fungus in these

patients. This work will be in conjunction with a larger study

involving a number of patients with ABPA. Confirmation of the

presence of the fungus could lead to alternative treatment methods

that would benefit the patients affected.

The Dynamic Duo pose by their new microscope

Aerobiology Forecasts – continuing 36 years of records

For over three decades, the prevalence of airborne allergenic

pollen and fungal spores has been recorded by a dedicated team

of aerobiologists at MAARA, based in Derby. The daily collection

and analysis of data in Derby over the years led to the

development of pollen and fungal spore forecasts, based on

annual trends and meteorological factors.

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Following the retirement of the principal MAARA aerobiologists,

the charity provided a three-year grant, which will allow the daily

collection of data, advice to the general public, and the

development of research to continue. An Aerobiology unit has now

been set up in Leicester, which will both continue and develop the

work carried out over the last 36 years. More on the new unit can

be found in another article in this issue.

A second site in the East Midlands, funded in part by MAARA, was

based within the Department of Biology at the University of

Leicester under the leadership of John Bailey. Pollen data has

been recorded continuously at Leicester site for the last 21 years.

The new aerobiology unit will continue the pollen recording from

this site, and from April 2006, has begun fungal spore counts for

Leicester.

Abbie Fairs, and Catherine Pashley will be responsible for the

majority of the aerobiology recording, with John Bailey counting

the Leicester pollen data during the grass pollen season. The three

are pictured below with a new Burkard 7 day recording volumetric

spore trap, purchased with the MAARA grant money to replace

one of the older Leicester traps.

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Abbie Fairs, Cat Pashley and John Bailey and the new/refurbished

traps at Leicester.

An appreciation of Dr Harry Morrow Brown

in anticipation of his 90th Birthday

Harry Morrow Brown was born in Auchterarder Scotland, near

Gleneagles in 1917. Although naturally inclined to engineering his

feeling that war was inevitable was so strong that he decided to

study medicine at Edinburgh University; qualified M.B Ch.B. in

1939 and joined the army on October 13th 1939. He served in

various units being drafted to the Far East in 1942 He served all

over the Indian subcontinent finally being in administrative medical

charge of half of Ceylon, and was demobilised with the rank of

major.

1949 became MRCP (Edinburgh), followed in 1956 by FRCP

1950 MD thesis accepted with commendation, title Adaptation and

Adaptive Dysfunction

1950 appointed Senior Registrar Medical Professorial Unit Dundee

1951 appointed Senior Registrar in chest medicine Dundee

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1953 appointed Consultant Chest Physician at Derby, based at

Derby Chest Clinic. Here he was dealing mainly with TB patients.

When this was under control, he turned his attention to asthma. At

this time, oral steroids had become available, and it became clear

that while many patients responded extremely well, some did not.

1957 Set up a study of 90 patients with chronic asthma treated

with prednisolone - he demonstrated that only those patients with

abundant eosinophils responded to steroids. This was published in

the Lancet 1958

Noting that some asthmatics reacted to different types of weather,

he started to study the air spora, by various means. He exposed

culture plates and found differences in air spora at various times of

day and in different weather conditions. He then developed

volumetric air sampling devices. This set in train aerobiology in

Derby - and the beginning of an uninterrupted database of airborne

pollen and spore figures, which continues to date.

He appointed the first research assistant Julie Corden in 1964 with

a research grant from Sheffield Regional Health Board, working –

of course - on aerobiology!

In 1968 he founded the charity Midlands Asthma and Allergy

Research Association (MAARA). This became a significant

organisation conducting and funding research into asthma and

allergy. Increasing his research at MAARA over the years, he

developed strong teams in aerobiology and immunology. He was

Medical Director of MAARA from 1968-1989 when he retired.

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In 1970 he demonstrated for the first time the effectiveness of

aerosol steroids for asthma sufferers, thus avoiding the serious

side effects of oral steroids. Inhaled steroids are now standard

treatment all over the world.

Among the numerous topics Dr Brown has worked on since

MAARA’s formation are: -

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• Setting up an extensive program of immunology research,

including investigation of antibodies in food allergy

• Purification & standardisation of allergens

• Improvements in immunotherapy with allergen extracts

• Improvements in skin testing extracts and methods,

developing a standardised testing needle still used today.

Use of nasal provocation testing as a more reliable

diagnostic guide than skin testing.

• Development of patients’ symptom diaries, to help determine

cause(s) of symptoms, & to assess treatment efficacy,

avoidance measures etc. used in conjunction with airborne

pollen & spore concentration charts

• Development of a nasal aerosol steroid inhaler for rhinitis

sufferers

• Development of portable peak flow meters for daily use by

patients at home.

Last but not least, the holding of a series of highly successful

Charles Blackley Symposia attracting allergy specialists from

around the world

MAARA can be said to be Dr Morrow Brown’s greatest

achievement, and one for which he worked tirelessly, dedicating

huge amounts of time. Dr Brown and MAARA elicited some

dedicated service from the staff too. Julie Corden, Felicity Jackson

and Wendy Millington worked in aerobiology at MAARA from its

onset and were still working in aerobiology there when they retired.

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Throughout his career he has viewed the patients as a whole;

looked at the effects of allergy on all organ systems – not just

chest - and on the quality of life. He’s carried out in-depth

investigations; he viewed simply treating the symptoms only as a

last resort. He’s always been keen to adopt new treatment

methods – if their usefulness can be scientifically verified. Always

receptive to opportunities to develop new techniques, or

investigate some new aspect. He has always wholeheartedly

applied his inventive genius, constantly striving to devise gadgets

and improve on existing devices!

He has been in the forefront of thinking on treatment, causes,

methods of alleviation and, especially, investigation. He was one

of the first in the UK to accept the fact and importance of food

allergy. One of the first in the UK to carry out air sampling for

pollen and fungal spores, and to appreciate their importance,

particularly in seasonal allergy, he is acknowledged to be one of

the founding fathers of the discipline of aerobiology in the UK.

When it came to fund-raising, Harry Morrow Brown has always

been expert at arm-twisting! Somehow, money could be raised.

He has been presented with many awards - in 2004 Honorary

Doctorate at Derby University; most recently ( 2006) elected an

international Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma

and Immunology

AA vveerryy HHaappppyy 9900tthh bbiirrtthhddaayy iinn tthhee NNeeww YYeeaarr DDrr HHaarrrryy MMoorrrrooww BBrroowwnn ffrroomm BBAAFF

A year in Poznań

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Matt Smith

I am just coming to the end of my 12 months working for the

Laboratory of Aeropalynology at Adam Mickiewicz University

(AMU) in Poznań. The work has been part of the AEROTOP

project that aims to establish aerobiology in Poznań. AEROTOP is

a Marie Curie Actions Development Scheme (TOK-DEV), which is

funded under the European Unions Sixth EU Framework

Programme for Technological Development (FP6).

AEROTOP is due to run to the end of April 2008. During the

project, researchers from the Laboratory of Aeropalynology (the

host of AEROTOP) have the opportunity to work at the partner

institutions involved in the AEROTOP project, which are the

National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit at the University of

Worcester (United Kingdom) and the Department of Plant Biology

and Ecology at the University of Córdoba (Spain). There are also

opportunities for people to come and work at the Department of

Aeropalynology at AMU: young researchers with doctorates with

four years experience can come to Poznań for one year, or

researchers with ten years experience can work in Poznań for two

months.

My time in Poznań has been very interesting and rewarding.

Before I arrived at the Laboratory of Aeropalynology other

participants of the AEROTOP project, namely Dr. Herminia García

Mozo and Dr. Jose Carlos Prieto Baena, had done a great job in

ensuring that all pollen counts were up-to-date. Jose Carlos also

designed databases in MS Access for the storage and

management of pollen and spore data and literature. This work

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has been invaluable because it has allowed me to carry out a

number of research projects.

Since I arrived in Poznań we have studied spatial and

temporal variations in airborne pollen in and around the city,

looked at factors that influence the timing and severity of pollen

seasons of spring trees (Corylus, Alnus and Betula) and grasses

and examined Ambrosia pollen episodes using back-trajectory

analysis. The latter was performed with the help of Carsten

Ambelas Skjøth from the National Environmental Research

Institute in Denmark. The results of these studies have been

presented at conferences in Neuchâtel (Switzerland) and Lublin

(Poland) and several papers have been submitted to scientific

journals. I have also participated in several workshops (covering

fungal spore identification, database construction and statistics)

that were held at AMU.

However, it has not been all work. I have been able to travel

a little and visited places such as Lublin and Krakow (the latter is a

particularly beautiful city) and have spent some time in the field

with local biologists (wildlife in Poland is truly amazing). The

language is difficult to learn, but the Polish people are very friendly

and helpful. There are still some opportunities to work in Poznań,

so if anyone is interested then they should contact Dr Alicja Stach

from the Laboratory of Aeropalynology:

• ambrozja@man.poznan.pl

• http://www.biologia.amu.edu.pl/PA/index_eng.htm

Quality Control Exercise Report 2006

Jean Emberlin, Beverley Adams-Groom & Matt Smith.

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Introduction The Quality Control survey is necessary because it helps to

maintain the high standards of the National Pollen Monitoring

Network. Good QC results are a requirement for site accreditation

and full payment. The results of this survey will also help identify

counters who will benefit from more training. The main focus is

therefore on new sites and new counters but it is also hoped that

more experienced counters will benefit from the exercise.

Furthermore, the results will be used to recognize areas of pollen

training which need to be improved.

In recent years the Quality Control Exercise (QC) has composed of

a rota aimed at testing each site every third year plus any new

counters. However, the 2006 QC focussed only on new counters.

This was because there were more new counters than usual and

there are constraints on QC experts’ time.

This year, eight pollen monitoring sites were represented in the

QC. Three were EAN UK sites and the rest were grass only

monitoring stations. In total, thirteen counters took part. Originally

the programme was to include seventeen counters but for various

reasons these counters did not monitor pollen in 2006.

1. Methodology Each counter was asked to send two slides, one with a low grass

pollen count (<30 grass pollen grains/m3) and one with a high

28

grass pollen count (>50 grass pollen grains/m3). Sites were

requested not to send slides that contained more than 150 grass

pollen grains/m3 because this would take too much time to count.

In addition, the EAN sites received the same request for Spring

trees as well (four slides per person in total). All allergenic pollen

types were counted whether or not the sites counted just grass.

This aided the QC process by allowing the staff at the National

Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit to find out which pollen

types, if any, had been mistaken for grass.

Slides were counted according to the methodology described in

the British Aerobiology Federation (BAF) handbook [BAF 1995].

The quality of the slide making was also noted. A report on our

findings was sent back to each site along with their slides and

count sheets. A mock slide was sent to some sites to help improve

their slide preparation. Type slides containing different pollen types

were also included when there were discrepancies in the count.

A scale defining the acceptable amount of variation from the QC

count (Table 1) was used to determine the accuracy of the count.

This scale has been used in previous QC surveys. This scale

allows for a certain amount of variation between the site and QC

counts, whilst ensuring that the data are reliable enough for

forecasting. Sites whose counts were found to be far outside these

margins of acceptable error will be invited to attend training before

the beginning of the next grass pollen season (2007).

Table 1. Guidelines used to define the acceptable variation from

the QC count for grass and tree pollen.

29

QC count

Acceptable variation from QC count

0-30 +/- 6 31-75 +/- 10 76-125 +/- 15 126-200 +/- 20 201-400 +/- 30 401-600 +/- 40

2. Results Pollen counts. Fig. 1: Number of counts for each taxon that were within the QC limits.

In total, 62 readings from the counters were checked against the

QC experts’ counts for six different pollen types. Of these, 35 were

within the limits of the allowed variation and 27 exceeded the

limits. Figure 1 shows the results for the individual taxa.

EAN sites:

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Grass (n=24) Betula (n=12) Fraxinus (n=12) Quercus (n=5) Urticaceae (n=12) Rumex (n=4)

Num

ber o

f cou

nts

with

in Q

C li

mits

.

30

In general, counters from these sites could adequately count some

taxa but not others. Typically, counters were good at identifying

Betula but poor for Quercus, while a few were poor for grass

identification but good at trees.

One counter scored 100% accuracy.

Grass only sites:

No counters scored 100% accuracy on both slides.

Counters from these sites had a variety of problems:

undercounting, e.g. omitting damaged grains; counting nettle as

grass and thereby over-counting or just a combination of

inadequate counting and substandard slides. Three of the counters

out of the six had very poor results.

Slide Quality

The quality of the slides was average to good in most cases, apart

from two notable exceptions where the quality was very poor due

to intermittent adhesive, poorly applied mountant, bubbles or lack

of stain.

Discussion and Conclusion Some new counters are at a disadvantage because often they do

not get enough opportunity to practice the skill of identification. In

some cases, they have been brought into the site’s pollen

monitoring system purely to fill in when the main counters are

absent or on leave. Others may be on a rota with several other

31

counters and they do not spend enough time on the job to perfect

their skill. In addition, sites are often on tight budgets and cannot

afford to pay much for training. At the NPARU, training days for

grass only sites are offered for two days* but take-up is often only

for one day because this is all that the site can afford to pay for,

even though we only charge cost price for the training. One day of

training offers little chance for much practice along with all the

skills they have to learn, although we always strongly encourage

them to do as much as they can when they return to their site. Of

the three counters with the poorest results, none had previously

been trained at the NPARU. Six of the total of 13 new counters

tested had been trained at the NPARU including the one who

scored 100% accuracy.

In approximately half the cases where the counts exceeded the

permitted amount of variation, the results were only slightly outside

the margins of error. In such cases, the counters have been given

the advice they need to correct their mistakes and now they must

get more practice ahead of the 2007 pollen season. In other

cases, training will definitely be required to get the counters up to

standard.

*Note that EAN training days are always two day events because

there are more pollen types to learn about.

New air sampling devices Harry Morrow Brown Every now and then I get a creative urge, sometimes regarding air-

sampling devices. In the past this has included the Car Bonnet

32

Sampler, which is attached to the bonnet by means of a strong

magnet, and records the amount of air, which is passing through

by means of a Wright respirometer recording to the nearest litre of

air. This instrument can use one slide to take a single sample

when required, or several samples one after another. Possible

uses are to assess the enormous amounts of pollen liberated on

the motorways by the passing traffic, and monitoring the spread of

plant pathogens. This device was first made over 20 years ago

and was published in Aerobiologia but has never been used for

research studies so far.

The Respirometer, invented by B M Wright who invented the peak

flow meter, is also the crucial part of the Personal Air Sampler,

which I made 13 years ago. Last year it was used by Jean

Emberlin to measure exactly how many pollen grains an individual

person inhales in the country and in the town during the pollen

season, and shown as a poster at EAACI in Vienna and in

Neufchatel. This confirms observations from MAARA in 1986

showing peaks of pollen count of over 1000 /m3 at certain times of

the day but an average of less than 100. This summer I have

made an improved instrument using the airtight Click boxes

recently invented for foodstuffs. The attached picture shows that

it can obscure the face as effectively as a veil. This device has

unrealised potential for the investigation of occupational

allergies and indoor aerobiology

The amount of dirt that accumulates on the blades of an electric

fan is surprising, especially when examined microscopically. This

suggested that attaching part of a slide covered with a thin layer of

Vaseline to the blades could act as a simple air sampler.

Eventually a 16cm long flat metal strip was attached to the fan with

a thin metal ‘air scoop’ at each end 10 mm square at entry and 3 x

33

2mm at exit. This was found to catch all airborne particles very

effectively. Theoretically with 16 cm between scoops this should

sample 50litres /min at 1000 rpm, and the catch was remarkable,

but no way has been found to measure this accurately. Finally the

strip was attached to a 3000-rpm motor without the fan, is used for

spot checks at present, and has been dubbed the Whirligig

Sampler.

34

Still inventing after all these years!

35

THE AIR SPORA A manual for catching and identifying airborne biological particles

36

Lacey, Maureen E., West, Jonathan S. 2006, XV, 150 p., Spiral binding ISBN-10: 0-387-30252-2 ISBN-13: 978-0-387-30252-2 Online orders shipping within 2-3 days 96,25 €

The Air Spora is an

illustrated guide to

trapping, identifying

and quantifying

airborne biological

particles such as

fungus and plant

spores and pollen.

This book will be of

use to anyone who

is interested in

aerobiology or is

studying applied

aspects such as

dispersal and effect

of allergens, or human, animal and plant pathogens. Including a

full review of what is in the air and detailing the historical

development of theories leading to modern aerobiology, the book

explains the fundamental processes behind airborne dispersal and

techniques used to sample, identify and quantify biological

particles. Methods are explained in a step-by-step guide for the

use of standard air sampling devices. Although formats applicable

to modern molecular and immunological techniques are described,

the emphasis of the book is on simple visual identification of

37

particles in air samples using traditional microscopy. Consequently

a chapter on setting-up and using a light microscope is included,

although experienced researchers can skip to chapters showing

photographs of examples of the Air Spora and nine colour plates of

paintings of airborne particles at a magnification of x1000.

BAF Executive Committee Ursula Allitt 20 Acrefield Drive Cambridge CB4 1JP Tel: 01223 353529 John Bailey (Joint Secretary) Biology Department University of Leicester Leicester LE1 7RH Tel: 0116 2523386 e-mail: jpb@le.ac.uk Colin Bird Public Health & Environmental Protection Division, Enterprise, Environment & Culture Directorate, Jesmond Dene Laboratory, Jesmond Dene Road, Newcastle upon Tyne. NE2 2EY. Tel. 0191 278 1966 Colin.bird@newcastle.gov.uk Peter J A Burt (Treasurer) Natural Resources Institute University of Greenwich at Medway Central Avenue Chatham Kent ME4 4TB Direct line: 01634 883231 Fax: 01634 883379 P.J.A.Burt@greenwich.ac.uk Eric Caulton Scottish Centre for Pollen Studies

38

Department of Biological Sciences Napier University Merchiston Campus Edinburgh EH10 5DT Tel: 0131 4552204 01875 320444 (Home) Fax: 0131 4528032 E-mail eric-caulton@vogrie.fsnet.co.uk Julie Corden (Joint Secretary) Midlands Asthma and Allergy Research Association No1 Mill The Wharf Shardlow Derby DE72 2GH Tel: +44 (0)1332 799600 Fax: +44 (0)1332 792200 E-mail: jmcmaara@maara.org Jean Emberlin National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit Institute of Health University of Worcester Worcester WR2 6AJ Tel +44 (0)1905 748066 Fax +44 (0)1905 855234 e-mail j.emberlin@worc.ac.uk Alastair McCartney (President) Plant-Pathogen Interactions Division Rothamsted Research Harpenden Herts. AL5 2JQ U.K. Tel: +44 (0)1582 763133 ext 2246 Fax: +44 (0)1582 760981 E-mail: alastair.mccartney@bbsrc.ac.uk Sharon Neilson Education Officer Scottish Crop Research Institute Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA Tel:+44(0)1382 560032

39

Fax:+44(0)1382 560002 Mobile: 07803 506725 Sharon.Neilson@scri.ac.uk Caroline Simpson Immunology Laboratory Belfast Link Laboratories Royal Victoria hospital Trust Grosvenor road BELFAST BT12 6BA Tel: 028 9063 2689 Email caroline.simpson@bll.n-i.nhs.uk