Pollution Research Paper

ALLERGENIC AEROSPORA FROM THE SPIDER WEBS OF SANJEEVAIAH PARK IN HYDERABAD CITY, TELANGANA STATE

D.S. SEETHARAM, H. RAMAKRISHNA, J. GANGA KAILASH AND R. PRABHAKAR

Abstract

An aeropalynological investigation was carried out at Sanjeevaiah Park near Hussain Sagar Lake, Hyderabad during the winter season. The survey was performed by using palynological data collected from the spider webs. Six spider web samples were collected from Sanjeevaiah Park and processed by using HCL and HF then Erdtman’s (1943) acetolysis technique. About 34 pollen grains along with fungal spores belonging to 14 families were trapped and identified. The predominant pollen are Ageratum conyzoides (7.75%), Manilkara zapota (6.43%), Vernonia ceneria (5.55%), Millingtonia hortensis (4.19%), Prosopis julifera (3.26%), Alternanthera sessilis (2.87%), Poaceae type (2.66%), Cocos nucifera (2.05%), Azadirachta indica (2.01%), Eucalyptus globulus (2%) and Syzygium cumini (1.94%) and the fungal spores viz., Pithomyces sp. (9.53%), Curvularia (8.89%), Alternaria (7.98%), Ascospores (8.21%), Torula sp. (5.09%) and Rust spores (2.92%). These fungal spores are recorded in high percentage than pollen grains. The following allergenic pollen viz., Peltophorum pterocarpum, Ageratum conyzoides, Eucalyptus globulus, Vernonia ceneria, Azadirachta indica, Millingtonia hortensis, Xanthium strumarium, Alternanthera sessilis, Abutilon indicum, Ricinus communis, Syzygium cumini, Cocos nucifera, Prosopis julifera, Sida cordifolia and Poaceae pollen were recorded in the present study. The dominance of fungal spores is due to the unhygienic, anthropogenic activities around Hussain Sagar Lake and also the polluted water of the lake. These signify the humid climatic conditions hence more fungal spores and pollen, which causes asthma, seasonal allergy (hay fever) and contact dermatitis. Hence spider webs are acting as natural pollen traps and are useful to know the incidence of allergy causing pollen and also regional vegetation growing in and around Sanjeevaiah Park.