Estimating the allergenic potential of urban green areas in the city of Madrid (Spain)

Abstract

Urban green spaces offer large environmental, social, and economic benefits for the population. However, when species that compose it are chosen, its allergenicity is not usually considered, which poses a risk to the population with pollinosis. In this work, the potential allergenicity index (IUGZA) of five urban parks in the city of Madrid (Spain) has been calculated, in order to assess their allergenic potential and to identify the species that most contribute to increasing it. The results show that three of the parks register an index value sufficient high to cause adverse reactions in the exposed population. The most contributing species to the index value are London plane (Platanaceae family), horse chestnut (Sapindaceae family), pines and cedars (Pinaceae family), and various species of the Cupressaceae family. Some parks showed a relationship between tree density and percentage of species with high or very high potential allergenicity value (VPA), with the IUGZA. A relationship between grass coverage and the percentage of contribution to the value of the index has been observed. These studies can guide managers in the selection of species with low allergenicity and management practices in order to minimize the effects on allergic citizens.