The European Hialine study revealed that not only are people allergic to different pollens, but some pollens, even from the same plant species, respond more agressively. The pollens of a particular species not only produce different allergens, but different numbers of proteins with potential to cause allergic reactions. This is all based on their level of maturation, as well as the time of year and the region, according to the Hialine study press release published at Technische Universität München (TUM), and reported in Science Daily May 21, 2012.
Thirteen research institutes from eleven European countries participated in the three-year Hialine study coordinated by Professor Dr Jeroen Buters of TUM’s Chair of Molecular Allergology and the Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM). The mission was to study the three main causes of hay fever in Europe, pollen of birch trees, grass, and olive plants.
Researchers found that, “the grass pollens in France were significantly more aggressive than those in Portugal.” While Birch pollens varied less, for olive pollen “…geographical distance seems to have played only a minor role: At two olive measuring stations located only 400 kilometers apart, the scientists observed that the allergen level was four times greater at one of the locations.”
See the full press release at:
Technische Universität München
Read more about the Hyaline study and group here:
HIALINE – Health Impacts of Airborne Allergen Information Network