Assessing allergenicity of urban parks: Ordu City

Abstract

Higher average temperatures due to climate change tend to change the spatial and temporal distribution of pollens. The study area was conducted in the Urban Park areas of Ordu Province, where urban people spend the most time. In the last decade, various allergenicity indices such as Specific Allergenicity Index (SAI) and Urban Green Zone Allergenicity Index (IUGZA) have been proposed to control hypoallergenicity in urban areas. The study aimed to warn allergic individuals about the risk posed by pollens and evaluate the allergenicity of existing urban vegetation. Specific Allergenicity Index (SAI) and Urban Green Zone Allergenicity Indexes (IUGZA = 0.208) of 25 plant species spread in urban park areas were calculated. To determine these indices, life cycle, overlap-abundance values, height, pollination time, pollination process, allergenicity potential, and cross-reactivity values of the species were determined. Among the species, the species with the highest allergenic effect, i.e. both abundance and allergenic potential, is Corylus avellana var avellana. In terms of allergenic potential value (VPA), it is seen that C. avellana var. avellana, Alnus glutinosa, Cupressus sempervirens, Olea europae, Salix spp. and Acer spp. are the most effective species on the axes. The abundance of the species (0.802) was the factor that made the allergenic factors most effective. Determination of the urban allergenicity index of Ordu province to determine the ecological driving forces of the distribution of ecosystems is important in estimating the allergenicity index of urban green areas and in selecting the right species to minimize the allergenic in parks.