Welcome to the
Carnow Conibear/ OMS
Fungal Mold Spore Counting Website
Carnow Conibear/OMS – Fungal Mold Spore
Counts - Downtown Chicago, IL
Our mold counter checks the Burkard volumetric spore trap on the roof of 300 West Adams in
Chicago, Illinois. The outdoor air is sampled continuously for a seven-day period. Air is drawn in to
the Burkard via a pump and air particles; including fungi and mold spores, adhere to a coated
melinex tape. The tape is retrieved weekly and individual microscope slides are prepared for each
day. The slides are examined under a microscope and individual mold spores are counted and
classified. The count is reported as the total number of mold spores per cubic meter of air per 24hour period. Individual species are also counted and categorized.
What is the Mold Count?
Mold and mildew are fungi. They differ from plants and animals in how they
reproduce and grow. The “seeds” called spores, are spread by the wind. Allergic
reactions to mold are caused by inhalation of the mold spores.
Although there are many types of molds, only a few dozen are known to cause
allergic reactions. Alternaria, Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Penicillium,
Helminthosporium, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Mucor, Rhizopus and Aureobasidium are
the major culprits. Many common spores can be identified when viewed under a
microscope.
Many molds grow on rotting logs and fallen leaves, in compost piles and on grasses
and grains. Unlike pollen, which comes from plants and trees, mold spores do not
disappear with the first killing frost. Most outdoor molds become dormant during
the winter. In the spring, they grow on vegetation killed by the cold.
Mold counts are likely to change quickly, depending on the weather. Certain spore
types reach peak levels in dry, breezy weather. Some need high humidity, fog or
dew to release spores. This group is abundant at night and during rainy periods.
Mold spores as seen under a microscope
Spore Name
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Date:
1. Alternaria
2. Cladosporium
3. Curvularia
4. Dreshslera/ Helminthosporium
5. Epicoccum
6. Fusarium
7. Ganoderma
8. Nigrospora
9. Penicillium/ Aspergillus
10. Periconia
11. Pithomyces
12. Rusts
13. Stemphylium
14. Torula
15. Other Fungi
*Total Spore Counts
•This is the number of mold spores counted in a cubic meter of outdoor air collected at the intersection of Adams and Franklin Streets in
Chicago, Illinois.
Fungal Spores
•
Alternaria are often found growing on carpets, textiles and horizontal surfaces such as window
frames. They are also found in soil, seeds and plants. They are a known common allergen.
Alternaria are a dry spore and are readily found in air samples as well as on tape lift samples. They
are commonly found in water damaged buildings. A significant increase in indoor levels as
compared to outdoor levels can be a sign of growth.
•
Cladosporium is a common fungus that is a known and documented aero-allergen and is usually
associated with plants, wood products, and leather goods. The spores are easily made airborne and
as such are a common cause of respiratory problems and allergic reactions. They can be an agent
for hypersensitivity diseases. They are a parasite in infections of the skin, soft tissues or nails and
have been documented in cases of Blastomycosis and Histoplasmosis.
•
Penicillium is one of the first fungi to grow on water-damaged materials and has been implicated in
causing allergic reactions, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and a variety of severe lung complications.
It may cause sarcoidosis, fibrosis, or allergic alveolitis in susceptible individuals, or patients who
have been exposed over long periods of time, depending on the strain.
•
Aspergillus is part of a group of molds which are found worldwide, especially in the autumn and
winter in the Northern hemisphere. The fungus also causes allergic diseases in asthmatics and
patients suffering from cystic fibrosis.
National Allergy Bureau Outdoor Mold
Counts
Quanitative Count
Qualitative Count
0
Absent
1 – 6,499
Low
6,500 – 12,999
Moderate
13,000 – 49,999
High
> 50,000
Very High
Note: numbers are in daily average spore
counts per cubic meter
Source: American Academy of Allergy and
Immunology
Total Spore Counts for Week of
(Date: November, 2010)
Daily Counts
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
Daily Counts
Average Spore Counts for the Month
Monthly Count
6000
5000
4000
3000
Weekly Counts
2000
1000
0
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Annual Spore Counts
Spore Count Totals
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
Spore Count Totals