[Pollen and inanimate dust particles as cause of obstructive airway diseases]

A survey of pollen production, especially in anemophilous plants is first given, because pollen frequently causes respiratory symptoms. Afterwards the use of the Burkard apparatus for volumetric sampling is described, in which the amounts of pollen and fungal spores in a certain volume of air can be caught. It is recommended that, in the country under investigation, several places with different climates each should have an apparatus continuously in operation. then flowering calendars can be constructed to show the various seasons of flowering, and pollen and spore production, and how they vary throughout the country. Meteorological data may also be included in these graphs. G. BOEHM's 'Individual Pollen Collector' is then described. This device is very useful for 'problem patients' with hayfever. Dark stripes of varying intensity resulting from inanimate particles such as dust and soot can also be seen in the daily specimens of the Burkard device. In this case a semiquantitative measurement is possible with a pherogramme evaluator, which is available in every modern clinic. Finally information about the frequency of pollinosis in the population, especially children with asthma, hayfever etc. is given. The prognosis for these patients is discussed and it is noted that there should be more long-term investigations of patients suffering from pollinosis. It would then be better, to give better prognoses for these allergic illnesses.