The atmospheric fungal spores of Durban have been monitored since 1989
, using a Burkard sampler. Results for the three-year period, from 198
9-1991, showed that fungi were present in the atmosphere throughout th
e year. Two peaks were recorded, the major one in late summer/autumn,
and a lesser one in late spring. Cladosporium was the major component
of the fungal spectrum, with highest counts measured in the winter. Ca
tegories of undifferentiated ascospores and basidiospores constituted
the bulk of the remainder of the assemblage. Although counts for indiv
idual taxa seldom attained threshold levels for allergy, combined coun
ts did, in fact, exceed such levels. This may be more pertinent in the
case of multiple sensitivities to fungal allergens.