Distribution of allergenic tree species in Kaunas

Abstract

Urban green spaces are the most known elements of an urban environment. Urban vegetation is related not only with numerous health benefits, but also with potential risks. Anemophilous pollen grains of many trees are one of the most important allergy factors in humans. Varies studies have showed that the prevalence of allergic diseases is constantly increasing in the world. Particularly important are surrounding living place with a large number of allergic trees. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of allergic tree species in Kaunas city. The object of the study was Kaunas city allergenic tree species which have high pollen production: birch, alder, hazel, oak, maple and ash. The data were selected from the inventory of Kaunas green areas and the analysis was made using ArcGIS 10.3 software. The results indicated that the most prevalent allergenic tree species in Kaunas are maple (44 %) and birch (28 %). Alder (1 %) and hazel (1 %) are very rare. The highest number of allergenic trees was found in Dainava district (24 %). Furthermore, Dainava district has the highest population density in Kaunas city. Ash (37 %) and birch (27 %) are the most common species in this district of the city.