SIZE CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNGUS ALLERGENS IN THE SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE

Aerodynamic size of fungus spores determines particle motion including settling under gravity, resuspension, and transport by air movement, and where fungus allergens are deposited in the human respiratory trac t. Field investigation was conducted to evaluate size characteristics of ambient fungus spores in Taipei city by Andersen six-stage viable s ampler in summer and winter seasons. It was found that the highest num ber of concentrations occurred at nighttime, with a concentration valu e above 1,700 CFU m(-3), but decreased to a level of 450-600 CFU m(-3) at daytime. Moreover, large numbers of fungus spores isolated were fo und to be in the size range of 2.1-3.3 mu m with a geometric mean diam eter in the size range of 1.96-3.40 mu m. The significant concentratio n variations between daytime and nighttime samples were demonstrated b ecause of a large number increase in the size range of 1.1-3.3 mu m. I n addition, size distributions of the yeasts were found to be remarkab ly different from those of Aspergillus and Penicillium spp. The observ ations of size differences among the important fungus allergens demons trated that there might also be significant differences in their behav ior and respiratory deposition.