Comparative study of airborne [i]Alternaria[/i] conidia levels in two cities in Castilla-La Mancha (central Spain), and correlations with weather-related variables
Journal Title: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine - Year 2012, Vol 19, Issue 2
Abstract
[i]Alternaria[/i] conidia are among the airborne biological particles known to trigger allergic respiratory diseases. The presented paper reports on a study of seasonal variations in airborne Alternaria conidia concentrations in 2 cities in the central Spanish region of Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete and Toledo. The influence of weather-related variables on airborne conidia levels and distribution was also analysed. Sampling was carried out from 2008-2010 using a Hirst sampler, following the methodology established by the Spanish Aerobiology Network. Annual airborne [i]Alternaria[/i] conidia counts were higher in Toledo (annual mean 3,936 conidia) than in Albacete (annual mean 2,268 conidia). Conidia were detected in the air throughout the year, but levels peaked between May-September. Considerable year-on-year variations were recorded both in total annual counts and in seasonal distribution. A significant positive correlation was generally found between mean daily [i]Alternaria[/i] counts and both temperature and hours of sunlight, while a significant negative correlation was recorded for relative humidity, daily and cumulative rainfall, and wind speed. Regression models indicated that between 31%-52% of the variation in airborne [i]Alternaria[/i] conidia concentrations could be explained by weather-related variables.
Authors and Affiliations
Silvia Sabariego, Veronica Bouso, Rosa Pérez-Badia
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP80454
- DOI -
- Views 159
- Downloads 0
Microbial air quality at Szczawnica sanatorium, Poland.
Nowadays, sanatorium treatment is undergoing a renaissance; however, data on air quality in such premises are scarce. The aim of this study was to characterize microbial air quality at the Szczawnica sanatorium in Southe...
Mental illness and metabolic syndrome – a literature review
[b]introduction and objective[/b]. Researchers’ opinions are divided on whether metabolic syndrome is a separate clinical entity. Undoubtedly, the components of the syndrome, such as abdominal obesity, hypertension, impa...
Health policy and legal regulations concerning the functioning in society of individuals burdened with Huntington’s disease and other rare diseases
In the European Union, 5,000–8,000 distinct rare diseases affect up to 6% of the total EU population; therefore, care of these patients and the possibilities to optimize this care become increasingly more clearly perceiv...
Incidence of fungals in a vineyard of the denomination of origin ribeiro (Ourense - north-western Spain).
Knowledge about the fungal spores most abundant in the atmosphere of a vineyard is of great use since it allows development of prediction models of the spore concentration, and therefore application of phytosanitary trea...
First report of two asymptomatic cases of human infection with [i]Babesia[/i] microti (Franca, 1910) in Poland
Human infection by [i]Babesia microti[/i] has been recognized as an emerging zoonosis with important public health implications worldwide. In Europe the reported cases of human babesiosis have been attributed mostly to [...