t201 Spruce

t201 Spruce Scientific Information

Type:

Whole Allergen

Display Name:

Spruce

Allergen code:

t201

Family:

Pinaceae

Source Material:

Pollen

Latin Name:

Picea excelsa

Other Names:

Spruce tree, Norway Spruce, Red Fir, European Spruce

Synonyms:

P. abies

Clinical Relevance

IgE-mediated reactions

Anecdotal evidence suggests that asthma and hayfever are possible following exposure to pollen from this tree; however, few specific studies on this have been reported to date.

Occupational asthma, lung function deficits, and elevated levels of respiratory symptoms in workers exposed to the wood dust have been demonstrated (1).

A 20-year-old man who had had flexural atopic eczema until 11 years of age, developed facial eczema and swelling 2 months after working at a sawmill as a forklift operator with fresh-sawn Finnish pine (Pinus sylvestris), Spruce (Picea abies) and European white birch (Betula pendula) timber. Patch testing was positive to Myroxylon pereirae resin, colophonium, abietic acid, fragrance mix, pine saw- dust and spruce sawdust (2).

In a study evaluating the impact of different trees on asthma, and the association between daily hospitalizations for asthma and daily concentrations of different tree pollens in 10 large Canadian cities, found an increase in daily tree pollen concentration, and percent increases in daily hospitalization for asthma were 2.45% for the group containing Pinaceae (Pine, Fir, Spruce) (3).

Major aeroallergens in Anchorage, Alaska, are Birch, Alder, Poplar, Spruce, Grass pollen and Cladosporium (4). Pollen from Picea spp. has been reported to be a significant airborne pollen in Zagreb, Croatia (5).

Other reactions

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis (7-8).

Plasters made from Spruce balsam may cause redness, itching papules, and/or sensitive skin, even pustules and ulcers (5).

Molecular Aspects

No allergens from this plant have yet been characterised.

Cross Reactivity

An extensive cross-reactivity among the different individual species of the genus could be expected as well as to a certain degree between members of the family Pinaceae (9).

Compiled By

Last reviewed: April 2022

References

Hessel PA, Herbert FA, Melenka LS, Yoshida K,Michaelchuk D, Nakaza M. Lung health in sawmill workers exposed to pine and Spruce. Chest 1995;108(3):642-6
Majamaa H, Viljanen P. Occupational facial allergic contact dermatitis caused by Finnish pine and spruce wood dusts.Contact Dermatitis 2004;51(3):155-6
Dales RE, Cakmak S, Judek S, Coates F. Tree pollen and hospitalization for asthma in urban Canada. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2008;146(3):241-7
Anderson JH. Allergenic airborne pollen and spores in Anchorage, Alaska.Ann Allergy 1985;54(5):390-9
Peternel R, Culig J, Mitić B, Vukusić I, Sostar Z.Analysis of airborne pollen concentrations in Zagreb, Croatia, 2002.Ann Agric Environ Med 2003;10(1):107-12
Estlander T, Jolanki R, Alanko K, Kanerva L.Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by wood dusts.Contact Dermatitis 2001;44(4):213-7
Meding B, Ahman M, Karlberg AT. Skin symptoms and contact allergy in woodwork teachers.Contact Dermatitis 1996;34(3):185-90
Fregert S, Rorsman H. Hypersensitivity to balsam of pine and spruce.Arch Dermatol 1963;87:693-5
Yman L. Botanical relations and immuno-logical cross-reactions in pollen allergy. 2nd ed. Pharmacia Diagnostics AB. Uppsala. Sweden. 1982: ISBN 91-970475-09