| Abstract [eng] |
A number of studies have already been carried out confirming the effects of airborne fungal spores on human health, the risks of the spread of fungal spores on cultivated plants, their cultivation and storage. At present, the increase in allergic disorders such as allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis to 30 % among people worldwide is worrying. This percentage is reported to have increased dramatically and is expected to increase further in the coming decades. Due to increasing urbanization, the mass migration of the population to cities, in order to spend their free time in green spaces, it is useful for people with allergies to have information about the allergenic potential of green spaces. The aim of the study was to evaluate the allergenic potential of Šiauliai green areas with fungal spores. To achieve this goal the following tasks were set: to analyze the abundance, dynamics and distribution of spores captured in the Coriolis type trap in different green spaces; to compare the data obtained by different spore fixation methods, their significance; to evaluate the green spaces of Šiauliai city according to the contamination with fungal spores and to provide recommendations for their visit. The study was conducted in 2020–2021. The object of the study was airborne spores of fungi of the genera Alternaria and Cladosporium. The study with Coriolis spore trap was performed according to the methodology presented in the article by Carvalho E., et al., (2008), and the data of Hirst type trap were obtained from the researchers of Šiauliai University. MS Excel and R program were used for statistical data analysis. In the samples collected in the Coriolis trap, the most spores of the genus Cladosporium were collected at the Salduvė mound research point - 10,553.85 spores/m3 of air during the study period. The lowest - in Rėkyva Park - 4,560.77 spores/m3 of air. Alternaria spores were mostly detected in Šiauliai central city park - 207.31 spores m3 of air during the whole study period. The lowest number of spores of this genus was found in Rėkyva Park - 94.23 spores/m3 of air. According to the total number of Alternaria and Cladosporium spores during the whole study period, at least in both cases it was found in Rėkyva Park. Therefore, it can be assumed that it is safest to spend free time in Rėkyva Park for people allergic to fungal spores. Analysis of Hirst and Coriolis trap data revealed no significant difference between the two methods (p > 0.05). |
