PINE TREE POLLEN ALLERGY
Key Allergens
Pine trees are in the Pinaceae family of trees.
Pine nuts (also called pignolia) are the small, edible seeds from certain species of the Pinaceae family. These contain various seed storage proteins.
Pine pollen contains thaumatin proteins, pectate lyase and polygalacturonase.
In the UK pine pollen season is April to July, peaking in June.
Pine nuts (also called pignolia) are the small, edible seeds from certain species of the Pinaceae family. These contain various seed storage proteins.
Pine pollen contains thaumatin proteins, pectate lyase and polygalacturonase.
In the UK pine pollen season is April to July, peaking in June.
Associated Syndromes
Pine tree pollen allergy is strongly associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis (hayfever). A pine tree pollen allergy can also be linked to asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic dermatitis.
The pollen of pine is not strongly linked to hayfever, but affects people more severely who do forestry work and woodworking.
Pine trees produce a sap or resin (also called rosin and colophony) which can cause contact dermatitis and asthma if it comes into contact with the skin. This resin can cause burn like rashes.
The pollen of pine is not strongly linked to hayfever, but affects people more severely who do forestry work and woodworking.
Pine trees produce a sap or resin (also called rosin and colophony) which can cause contact dermatitis and asthma if it comes into contact with the skin. This resin can cause burn like rashes.
Cross Reactivity
Other pollen allergies associated with thaumatin proteins including Japanese cedar, olive tree, nettle, common cypress and common cedar trees. Thaumatin is also well documented as being present in Cannabis sativa, the plant processed to make cannabis and hemp (marijuana) products.
Other pollens which contain pectate lyase include ragweed, wormwood, cypress, cedar, sunflower and juniper.
Polygalacturonase is an allergen which is also found in papaya, cypress, cedar, olive tree pollen, grass pollen, plane and peach trees.
Other pollens which contain pectate lyase include ragweed, wormwood, cypress, cedar, sunflower and juniper.
Polygalacturonase is an allergen which is also found in papaya, cypress, cedar, olive tree pollen, grass pollen, plane and peach trees.
Resources
Websites
University of Worcester - Pollen Calendar
Allergen Encyclopedia - Pine Trees
Dermnet NZ - Rosin & Colophony
Pollen Allergy – Peak Seasons in the UK
Articles and Journals
Characteristics of Regional Distribution of Pollen Concentration in Korean Peninsula, 2008
Allergy to pine pollen and pinon nuts: a review of three cases, 1990
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