Meteorological influences on airborne pollen and spores in Johannesburg (Gauteng), South Africa

We present a daily two-year (August 2019 –July 2021) aerospora assemblage for Johannesburg and explore temporal characteristics of 13 dominant aerospora in relation to daily meteorological variables (pressure, rainfall, relative humidity, temperature and wind characteristics). February–July, July–September and January-July represent high-risk periods for fungal spores [(Alternaria alternata (Fries. ex Keissler), Ascospores,Aspergillus niger (Van Tieghem), Penicillium chrysogenum (Thom),Cladosporium graminum (Corda),Epicoccum nigrum (Link),Helminthosporium solani (Durieu and Montagne)Nigrospora sphaerica (Saccardo ex. Mason), SmutsUstilago nuda (Jensen ex. Rostrup) andTorula herbarum (Link)], trees (Cupressus,Morus andPlatanus) and grass (Poaceae), respectively. Using a generalised additive model, results show that daily meteorological characteristics explained 7 –32% of daily aerospora variability, with the largest effect on tree pollen. Rainfall, relative humidity and temperature influenced daily fungal spore and Poaceae counts, with moderate/low rainfall (<  20 mm), higher/mid-ranging relative humidity (~ 40–60%) and temperatures of ~ 15–20 °C associated with higher counts during high-risk periods. Rainfall predominantly influenced tree counts during high-risk periods, with higher counts occurring on low rainfall (<10  mm) days. These results update the aerospora profile of Johannesburg, South Africa, providing important information to inform a...
Source: Aerobiologia - Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research