The effects of meteorological factors on the occur

Authors: Agnieszka GrinnGofroń Agnieszka Strzelczak

Publish Date: 2010/05/29

Volume: 55, Issue: 2, Pages: 235-241

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Abstract

Ganoderma sp is an airborne fungal spore type known to trigger respiratory allergy symptoms in sensitive patients Aiming to reduce the risk for allergic individuals we analysed fungal spore circulation in Szczecin Poland and its dependence on meteorological conditions Statistical models for the airborne spore concentrations of Ganoderma sp—one of the most abundant fungal taxa in the area—were developed Aerobiological sampling was conducted over 2004–2008 using a volumetric Lanzoni trap Simultaneously the following meteorological parameters were recorded daily level of precipitation maximum and average wind speed relative humidity and maximum minimum average and dew point temperatures These data were used as the explaining variables Due to the nonlinearity and nonnormality of the data set the applied modelling techniques were artificial neural networks ANN and mutlivariate regression trees MRT The obtained classification and MRT models predicted threshold conditions above which Ganoderma sp appeared in the air It turned out that dew point temperature was the main factor influencing the presence or absence of Ganoderma sp spores Further analysis of spore seasons revealed that the airborne fungal spore concentration depended only slightly on meteorological factorsFungal spores are an important component of bioaerosols and are considered to act as indicators of the level of atmospheric biopollution The general spectrum of spores present in the air is very broad with basidiospores representing a significant percentage of air mycofloraBasidiomycota is the most morphologically complex fungal division enclosing approximately 25000 species and including many of the conspicuous larger fungi such as mushrooms bracketfungi puffballs and earthstars as well as plant pathogenic smuts and rusts Hawksworth et al 1983 Basidiospores can be dispersed over long distances by the wind and have been reported as an important component of the air spora in urban areas in many different parts of the world Levetin 1990 1991 Hasnain 1993 Li and Kendrick 1994The basisiospores of Ganoderma sp commonly known as a bracket fungus or wood decay fungus are an important and prevalent group of fungal airspora worldwide Lehrer et al 1994 Levetin 1990 1991 Hasnain 1993 Halwagy 1994 Li and Kendrick 1995 At least six species of Ganoderma sp occur in Poland Their polyspores are found growing on dead or living hardwood and conifers The spores are easily recognizable by their orange inner wall and spines that penetrate a colourless outer wall Interwall connections and a prominent germ pore with truncated apex are also distinctive features Ganoderma sp spores range in size from 65 to 13 × 5 to 9 μmGregory and Hirst 1952 first suggested that basidiospores might be associated with respiratory allergy Studies from various parts of the world have clearly implicated Ganoderma sp spores as aeroallergens Tarlo et al 1979 Hasnain et al 2004 In various reports 10–48 human sensitisation in skin prick tests has been attributed to Ganoderma sp spores Tarlo et al 1979 Butcher et al 1987 Singh et al 1995 Even though Ganoderma sp spores are known to be allergenic and may be one of the principal causes of seasonal respiratory allergy their number in the air and their seasonal periodicities have seldom been studiedIt is well known that weather conditions influence the daytoday variability as well as seasonal levels of atmospheric spore concentrations Through aerobiological analysis of Lanzoni slides it appeared that Ganoderma sp spores were more abundant during certain years however these spores were not always present during the whole period studiedThe results of this investigation were based on aerobiological monitoring performed in Szczecin in 2004–2008 Szczecin is situated in the Odra river valley in NorthWest Poland 60 m a s l 53°26′26′′ N 14°32′50′′ E The city is surrounded by forests farmlands and abandoned farmland areas which provide suitable media for spore production The present “Baltic” climate of Szczecin is created by the impact of the Atlantic component and is characterised by mild winters and cool summers The climate in Szczecin is temperate–warm with a clear influence of the sea The driest months are February and March the rainiest and hottest month is July and the coolest is January The mean annual precipitation is relatively low at 500 mm and the flora vegetation seasons lasts 210–220 daysThis study was undertaken to specifically determine the daily concentration of Ganoderma sp spores over the 5year study period and to examine the relationship between the atmospheric Ganoderma sp spore content and the meteorological parameters in the area of Szczecin Due to multivariaty and the nonnormality and nonlinearity of the data set we used novel data analysis techniques artificial neural networks ANN and mutlivariate regression trees MRT

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