Pure Air Control Services and the Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory are pleased to introduce "Under the Scope", a new section of the
IEQ REVIEW. There are over 100,000 species of fungi. Many fungi are good and useful (edible mushrooms would be an example of these) while some cause problems (some fungi can injure plants and humans). Every week the IEQ Review will describe a specific microorganism, its morphological origin and potential health effects. If you would like to know about a specific organism and/or would like it published in The IEQ Review please email Dr. Rajiv Sahay with the Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDL) at Pure Air Control Services laboratory@pureaircontrols.comThis week we will cover ...
PINACEAE
contributed by:
Pure Air Control Services
Environmental Diagnostics Laboraotory
Clearwater, FL
PINACEAE
A Typical Pollen Grain
Pinaceae is the largest and most important family of Gymnosperms; the plants of this family have evergreen, needlelike or linear leaves arranged in spirals or fascicle with flattened cone scale distinct from the subtending bract. The mature cones are woody, seeds winged or wingless. There are six genera of this family found primarily in North America i.e. Abies, Larix, Picea, Pinus, Pseudotsuga and Tsuga. Abundant pollen grains are produced in the spring and early summer.
Pollen grain consisting of a body with two laterally placed bladders (sacca, vesicles). Its maximum dimension is generally 50 - 75 µm. Two pine subgenera Haploxylon and Diploxylon are differentiated by the presence or absence of bumps. The outer junction between the body and the bladder is acute, except a few species.
Allergenicity 
Rarely it causes pollinosis (an allergic reaction (hay fever) resulting in a type I antibody-mediated hypersensitivity). Infrequent reports of pollen allergenicity generally at low levels of sensitivity are known from California, Colorado, Alabama, Connecticut and Florida.
For more information contact
Dr. Rajiv Sahay
(800) 422-7873 ext. 204
laboratory@pureaircontrols.com 
