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Airborne Alternaria and Cladosporium species and relationship with meteorological conditions in Eskisehir City, Turkey

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Abstract

Alternaria and Cladosporium, known as the most allergenic spores were first collected by means of Durham gravimetric sampler from Eskisehir atmosphere from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2001. The daily, monthly and annual variations in spores/cm2 of Cladosporium and Alternaria were recorded. During this period, a total of 10.231 spores belonging to Cladosporium and Alternaria genera were recorded. Of these spores, 5,103 were identified in 2000 and 5,128 in 2001. While 63.09% of the total spores were those of Cladosporium, 36.91% were of Alternaria. Relationships between airborne fungal spore presence and meteorological conditions were statistically investigated. A Shapiro-Wilk test revealed that the airborne Cladosporium and Alternaria spores differed from a normal distribution. Thus, a Friedmann test was performed followed by a Pearson Correlation Analysis. The effects of rainfall, temperature and wind speed on Cladosporium and Alternaria numbers were non-significant according to the sites and months (p > 0.05), but the effects of relative humidity on Cladosporium and Alternaria numbers were significant (p < 0.01). Spore concentrations reached to their highest levels in May 2001.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science and Art, Department of Biology, Osmangazi University, 26480, Meselik, Eskisehir, Turkey

    Ismuhan Potoglu Erkara

  2. Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, Trakya University, 22030, Edirne, Turkey

    Ahmet Asan & Suzan Sarica Okten

  3. Faculty of Science and Art, Department of Statistics, Osmangazi University, 26480, Meselik, Eskisehir, Turkey

    Veysel Yilmaz

  4. Faculty of Science and Art, Department of Biology, Gazi University, 06500, Ankara, Turkey

    Sevil Pehlivan

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  1. Ismuhan Potoglu Erkara
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  2. Ahmet Asan
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  3. Veysel Yilmaz
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  4. Sevil Pehlivan
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  5. Suzan Sarica Okten
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Correspondence to Ahmet Asan.

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Erkara, I.P., Asan, A., Yilmaz, V. et al. Airborne Alternaria and Cladosporium species and relationship with meteorological conditions in Eskisehir City, Turkey. Environ Monit Assess 144, 31–41 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-9939-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-9939-0

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