Geographic distribution of mold spores associated with health effects

Exposure to aeroallergens, including many species of

mold spores, can trigger allergic reactions, including hypersensitivity pneumonitis,

allergic rhinitis, cardiovascular and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and asthma.

People vulnerable to mold spore exposure can benefit from information on increased

spore level and healthcare professionals can use this information to develop strategies

in preventing some adverse outcomes if the information is available at local scale.

The purpose of this project is to estimate spatiotemporal distribution of mold spores

associated with health effects.

As collection and quantitation of airborne spores are expensive, actual spore data for

many parts of the country, including Mississippi, are non-existent. Our work focuses

on developing spore estimates utilizing ground monitored meteorological data, NOAA/

NASA meteorological and ground condition data, dispersion model, and actual mold

spore counts for validation purpose.

For this study, the outdoor spores collected for

validation include Deuteromycetes Alternaria, Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Penicillium

and Fusarium, known to be clinically important allergens. Our preliminary findings

show that the number and type of mold spores vary drastically with the meteorological

conditions. Statistical models indicate that the best predicting variables include

temperature, precipitation, soil moisture and solar radiation. In the cold season, the most

significant predictor is temperature, followed by rainfall. In the warm season, the most

significant predictors are soil moisture and solar radiation; given the land conditions

remain same. These bio-physical relationships lead to useful estimation of mold spore

types and counts at 10x10 km scale on a daily basis.