A comparative study of atmospheric pollen concentrations collected with Burkard and Cour samplers, Seville (Spain), 1992–1994

Abstract

A comparative study has been carried out of the relative efficiency of a Burkard sampler and Cour trap, by taking samples from the air of Seville (SW Spain) for two consecutive years (July 1992 to July 1994). The devices were subjected to identical conditions of installation. 16 specific pollen types were studied either because of their high presence in the regional atmosphere or because of their allergenicity. With both methods, the variations in weekly concentrations throughout the year were analysed. Then the data from the two traps was compared in order to compare the efficiency of the two methods.

The Burkard sampler collects 1.42 times more total pollen than the Cour trap. Certain pollen types are found more frequently in the Burkard trap (Casuarina, Mercurialis, Olea, Platanus, Rumex and Urticaceae); some are approximately equal in the two traps (Amaranthaceae/Chenopodiaceae, Cupressaceae, Fraxinus, Pinaceae, Plantago, Poaceae and Quercus); and others are found more frequently in the Cour trap (Artemisia, Compositae and Myrtaceae). Qualitatively, the Cour trap (with 80 different pollen types identified) is more efficient than the Burkard (with 44 different pollen types identified), although the analysis with the Burkard is quicker, and therefore more practical for allergy studies.

A Spearman correlation analysis between the two methods was carried out. It showed that there were no large statistical differences in the weekly concentrations through the year for 15 out of the 16 pollen types considered.