Association between local airborne tree pollen composition and surrounding land cover across different spatial scales in Northern Belgium

Airborne pollen are important aeroallergens affecting human health. Local airborne compositions can pose health-risks for the sensitized population, but at present little is known about fine-scale composition patterns. The overall objective of this study to determine local variations in tree with passive samplers and identify surrounding landscape characteristics that drive them. In February–May 2017, during season, were measured by sampling 2 m height above ground-level 14 sites Flanders Brussels-Capital region (Belgium). Non-metric multidimensional scaling was used investigate environmental gradients amounts. Land cover types identified across spatial scales ranging between 20 5 km. detected same taxa time windows as validated volumetric Burkard samplers. Using samplers, we able measure compositions. Corylus Platanus associated urban areas; Populus, Juglans Fraxinus agricultural forests wetlands sources Alnus Quercus pollen. Salix, Populus Betula also mainly wetlands. context drives a meso-scale (1−5 km) rather than finer scale (20−500 m). Thus, land (e.g. forest, bush land, lands wetlands) areas may increase exposure allergenic area, potentially health large proportion population.