Airborne mold spore counts in outside air in our region (Eastern Canada) are
normally dominated by Cladosporium, Ulocladium and Alternaria, along
with Epicoccum, non sporing isolates and low levels of other molds including
Penicillium, Aspergillus, Scopulariopsis, etc. Total mold counts range up to
2,000-3,000 cfu/m3 in summer to less than 100 in winter.
This fall our lab has received air samples (RCS Biotest strips) from several
widely separated areas with very high levels of Penicillium sp in the outside
air samples (1,000-2,000 cfu/m3). We don't maintain our clients' data in a
form which allows easy retrospective analysis but I don't recall seeing such
high levels of penicillia in outside samples in previous years.
Is it likely that this reflects changing dominance of molds on the senescing
leaves of deciduous trees?
A pointer to published data would be appreciated.
----------------------------------- * ----------------------------------
Austin Reade, Microbiologist Phone: (902) 424-8670
Innovacorp Fax: (902) 424-4679
101 Research Drive, PO Box 790 Internet: areade at nsrfc.ns.ca
Dartmouth, NS, Canada B2Y 3Z7
