Impact of air pollutants, meteorological factors on pollen counts, and its association with patients emergency hospital visits in the North Delhi region

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Meteorological factors and environmental air pollutants may affect pollen counts in the North Delhi region that produce a variety of pollen and it may affect patients with respiratory illness. OBJECTIVE: This study was planned to see the effect of meteorological factors and environmental air pollutants on pollen counts and its association with emergency hospital visits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2015 to 2020, atmospheric pollen was collected (24-h sampling) using a Volumetric Burkard Air Sampler. RESULTS: The total pollen count was (n = 461,474) in the last 6 years and the maximum pollen count was (n = 85,363) observed in the year 2016. Pollen count was high (>500) in the months of March and April during the study tenure, however, October month of the year 2015 and 2017 also crossed this range of pollen count (>500). During the years 2015–2020, nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide had a negative association with pollen count that was statistically significant (P < 0.05), but sulfur dioxide had a positive correlation that was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Maximum emergency hospital visits were in 2019. Pollen count positively correlated with emergency hospital visits only for the year 2015. CONCLUSION: This study concludes that meteorological factors and environmental air pollutants have a significant influence on the pollen counts that may affect the patient’s hospital visits.