A Review of Airborne Pollen and Its Interactions With Air Pollutants, Urbanization, and Climate Change: Implications...

This review synthesizes interdisciplinary evidence on how environmental stressors-including climate change, urbanization, and air pollution-impact pollen dynamics and human health. We assess conventional and innovative monitoring methods to identify critical gaps in exposure evaluation and public health response.

Recent research confirms that climate change and urbanization are prolonging pollen seasons and increasing pollen potency. Pollutants such as O₃, NO_x, PM, SO₂, and elevated CO₂ along with urban heat island and vegetation changes further enhance pollen allergenicity. While monitoring technology is advancing, significant limitations persist, including poor spatial resolution, a lack of real-time capabilities, and severe underrepresentation of tropical regions. An integrated approach to pollen surveillance that combines climate, air quality, and health data is critically needed. Key challenges remain, including inadequate spatial coverage, a lack of standardized protocols, and poor integration with public health systems. The complex interactions between pollen as a bioaerosol and atmospheric processes represent a significant research gap, hindering our ability to predict and manage pollen-related health risks effectively.