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Seasonal and intradiurnal variation of allergenic fungal spores in urban and rural areas of the North of Portugal

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Abstract

Because fungal spore emission intensity varies throughout the year and even throughout the day, study of the hourly distribution is an important aspect of aerobiological monitoring. The objective of this work was to determine seasonal and intradiurnal variation of allergenic airborne fungal spores in urban and rural areas. The aerobiological study was performed from 2005 to 2007 using Hirst-type volumetric spore traps. Fungal spore types (Cladosporium, Alternaria, and Aspergillus/Penicillium) were selected according to their allergenic capacity and their frequency in the atmosphere. Cladosporium was the most frequent fungal spore in both locations, together with Alternaria; its concentration was higher during summer whereas Aspergillus/Penicillium was more abundant during autumn. Alternaria and Cladosporium maximum daily spore concentration was reached from 16.00 to 20.00 h. Aspergillus/Penicillium spore distribution differed in the two locations, and although it was difficult to establish a distribution pattern the highest concentration were found during the night. Determination of periods of high concentration may help allergic patients to avoid the daily periods when the allergen concentration is highest.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially supported by the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (project: 77161) and a grant from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (SFRH/BD/18765/2004).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grupo de Ambiente, Sociedade e Educação do Centro de Geologia da Universidade do Porto and Departamento de Botânica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Edifício FC4, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal

    M. Oliveira, H. Ribeiro & I. Abreu

  2. Serviço e Laboratório de Imunologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal

    J. L. Delgado

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  1. M. Oliveira
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  2. H. Ribeiro
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  3. J. L. Delgado
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  4. I. Abreu
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Correspondence to I. Abreu.

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Oliveira, M., Ribeiro, H., Delgado, J.L. et al. Seasonal and intradiurnal variation of allergenic fungal spores in urban and rural areas of the North of Portugal. Aerobiologia 25, 85–98 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-009-9112-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-009-9112-z

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