Abstract

ROCHA ESTRADA, Alejandra et al. Temporal variation of spores of Alternaria, Cladosporium, Coprinus, Curvalaria and Venturia in the air of the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2013, vol.29, n.2, pp.155-165. ISSN 0188-4999.

A study on the temporal variation of spores of Alternaria, Cladosporium, Coprinus, Curvularia and Venturia in the air in the metropolitan area of Monterrey city (AMM, Spanish acronym) was carried out during the period from November 2007 to October 2008. Spores from air were sampled with a Hirst type volumetric collector placed at a height of 15 m above ground level, within an area of the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León (the State University). A spore index of 33576 in the air was registered during this period. The month that showed the highest spore index was November with 5598 particles. The day monitoring the highest concentration of spores was February 25, 2008 with 985 spores/m³, while on January 13 of the same year the minimum concentration of 4 spores/m³ was observed. Eighty three percent of the total registered spores in the air of AMM belong to Alternaria (6 %), Cladosporium (69 %), Coprinus (3 %), Curvularia (2 %) and Venturia (3 %).

Keywords : spores; aeromycoflora; concentration; allergy.