Head-high, airborne pollen grains from different areas of metropolitan Delhi

A survey of airborne pollen grains from four zones of metropolitan Delhi was conducted for 1 year (February 1988-January 1989) at human height level (5'-6'). Sampling was carried out in different inhabited areas in the four zones using Burkard Volumetric Personal Samplers. Sampling was carried out at weekly intervals, three times a day (7, 14, & 20 h) for 15 min. Poaceae, Ricinus, Cheno-Amaranth, Morus, Artemisia, Myrtaceae, Parthenium, Prosopis and Cannabis are important pollen contributors to the atmosphere, especially at lower heights. In general, pollen concentration was low at human height. Quantitative zonal variations have been recorded within an urban city.