Aerobiological monitoring ofAlternaria fungal spores: a comparison between surveys in 1992 and 1993 and local meteorological conditions

Abstract

A study of airborne Alternaria spores was carried out over the period from April 1992 to October 1993, in the Rehabilitation Medical Centre of Montescano (PV), using an automatic volumetric spore trap (VPPS 2000 Lanzoni). The evaluation of the air concentration of these spores is becoming ever more important as it is this mycophyte which is the commonest cause of a positive allergy test. In 1993 the concentration of AIternaria spores was much higher than in the previous year and the period of highest sporulation was different, depending on the different rainfall pattern of the 2 years.

Crop harvest in Denmark and Central Europe contributes to the local load of airborne <i>Alternaria</i> spore concentrations in Copenhagen

“…In Krakow, peak concentrations are most often observed in the late afternoon, about a factor of three more often than during night and early morning (Stepalska and Wolek, 2009). Similar observations, with a peak in the late afternoon and a minimum in the night or early morning, were found in the north of Portugal (Oliveira et al, 2009;Rodriguez-Rajo et al, 2005), north of Spain (Aira et al, 2008), south of Spain (Angulo-Romero et al, 1999;Giner et al, 2001) and Italy (Ricci et al, 1995). This suggests that at all these sites, including Denmark, the overall load of Alternaria is due to local or regional sources and local dispersion.…”

“…Each of the 10 yr are therefore investigated during that period, when the accumulated number of fungal spores are between 2.5 % and 97.5 % of the total annual catch. The daily average concentration of 100 Alternaria spores m −3 has been reported as a clinical threshold for allergic symptoms (Gravesen, 1979;Ricci et al, 1995). Therefore, days with daily average concentration above 100 spores m −3 were investigated for the mean diurnal variation (Fig.…”

Variation assessment of airborne Alternaria and Cladosporium spores at different bioclimatical conditions

“…Most fungal species act saprotrophically, colonising all stages of plant growth, or as plant pathogens, prompting considerable economic losses worldwide (Hjelmroos 1993, Infante et al 1997a. Fungal spores can also have a serious detrimental effect on human health, triggering respiratory diseases and allergenic processes (O'Hollaren et al 1991, Peat et al 1995, Ricci et al 1995, Mitakakis & McGee 2000.…”

Identificação de bioaerossóis de origem fúngica na cidade de SãoPaulo

“…Os microrganismos como bactérias e fungos são de elevada importância para o ecossistema, sendo decompositores, alergênicos, causadores de efeitos adversos a saúde, como doenças respiratórias e infecciosas e doenças crônicas como asma, bronquite e rinite (HAINES et al, 2000;BURGE, 1986;INAL et al, 2010;RICCI, 1995;TARIQ et al, 1996;DAVIS et al, 1988;HORNER, 1989;ATAYGUL et al, 2007;DOUWES et al, 2003;BURGE e ROGERS, 2000), além disso alguns compostos como os glucanos presentes na parede celular dos fungos, podem resultar em respostas inflamatórias (DOUWES et al, 2003). Inal et al (2010) demonstraram uma relação entre concentração de fungos e o aumento de crises de asma e rinite em indivíduos sensíveis.…”

“…No geral, a ocorrência e distribuição dos fungos, bem como a liberação ou inativação dos esporos estão relacionadas à presença de água (precipitação, nevoeiro e orvalho), entretanto isso varia quando se analisa os diferentes grupos de fungos. Outros fatores podem influenciar a liberação de esporos, como a poluição, radiação solar, velocidade dos ventos, umidade relativa do ar, temperatura e a pressão atmosférica (HORNER et al, 1995;TANG, 2009, RICCI, 1995MORRIS et al, 2008). Ademais, devido às mudanças climáticas globais e ao aumento de CO2, há uma tendência de aumento na concentração de bioaerossóis no geral (WAYNE et al, 2002;MORRIS et al, 2008).…”