Pollen and its effects

pollen

Now a days, many of us mostly children are facing pollen allergy. Let's have a look what is this Pollen?
Pollen count:
Pollen counts are based on the amounts of pollen collected at specific sites earlier in the day, or on the previous day.
What is Pollen?

Pollen is a fine to coarse powder containing the microgametophytes of seed plants, which produce the male gametes.The individual pollen grains are small enough to require magnification to see detail. Pollen is produced in the 'microsporangium' (contained in the anther of an angiosperm flower, male cone of a coniferous plant, or male cone of other seed plants). Pollen grains come in a wide variety of shapes (most often spherical), sizes, and surface markings characteristic of the species. Pollen grains of pines, firs, and spruces are winged. The smallest pollen grain, that of the Forget-me-not (Myosotis spp.), is around 6 µm (0.006 mm) in diameter. Wind-borne pollen grains can be as large as about 90-100 µm. The study of pollen is called palynology and is highly useful in paleoecology, paleontology, archeology, and forensics. A Russian theoretical biologist has suggested that the quantity of pollen reaching a pistillate flower can transmit ecological information and also regulate evolutionary plasticity in cross-pollinating plants. Plentiful pollen indicates optimum environmental conditions, whereas a small amount of pollen indicates extreme conditions .

Geodakian believes that the quantity of pollen reaching a pistillate flower defines the sex ratio, dispersion and sexual dimorphism of a plant population. High pollen quantity leads to a reduction of these characteristics and stabilization of a population. Small quantity leads to their increase and destabilization of a population.Allergy to pollen is called hay fever. Generally pollens that cause allergies are those of anemophilous plants (pollen is dispersed by air currents.) Such plants produce large quantities of lightweight pollen (because wind dispersal is random and the likelihood of one pollen grain landing on another flower is small) which can be carried for great distances and are easily inhaled, bringing it into contact with the sensitive nasal passages.

Arizona was once regarded as a haven for people with pollen allergies, although several ragweed species grow in the desert. However, as suburbs grew and people began establishing irrigated lawns and gardens, more irritating species of ragweed gained a foothold and Arizona lost its claim of freedom from hay fever.

Anemophilous spring blooming plants such as oak, birch, hickory, pecan, and early summer grasses may also induce pollen allergies. Most cultivated plants with showy flowers are entomophilous and do not cause pollen

allergies. In the US, oak pollen starts to cause problems for sufferers in February and is gone by the end of April.

Effects of Pollen:
1.Hay fever.
2.Asthma.
3.Eczema
4.Watery eyes
5.Runny nose
Some instructions and treatment:
1. If pollen count increases, stay indoor.
2. Use antihistamines according to the direction.
3. Use nasal spray.
4. Keep your house clean and use air conditioning at day time.
5. keep your pets indoor because pollen might stick to their fur and cause you harm.
6. Take orange juice and use 1,000 to 5,000 mg vitamin C plus bioflavonoid complex.
7. Change clothes and wash your hair when you come back from outdoors.
8. Use yogurt in your meal.