title: Fungal spores and pollen in particulate matter collected during agricultural activities in the Po Valley (Italy).
abstract: Airborne particulate matter (PM) containing fungal spores and pollen grains was sampled within a monitoring campaign of wheat threshing, plowing and sowing agricultural operations. Fungal spores and pollen grains were detected and identified on morphological basis. No studies were previously available about fungal spore and pollen content in agricultural PM in the Po Valley. Sampling was conducted in a Po Valley farmland in Mezzano (Ferrara, Italy). The organic particles collected were examined by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. Fungal spores and pollen grains were identified when possible at the level of species. The most frequent components of the organic particles sampled were spores of Aspergillus sp., which could represent a risk of developing allergies and aspergillosis for crop farmers.
authors: Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Technical Unit for Environmental Assessment Models, Methods and Technologies (UTVALAMB), Air Quality Laboratory (AIR), 40129 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: chiara.telloli@enea.it.
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Telloli
authors: Department of Life Science and Biotechnologies, Ferrara University, Italy.
authors: Milvia
authors: M
authors: Chicca
authors: Department of Life Science and Biotechnologies, Ferrara University, Italy.
authors: Marilena
authors: M
authors: Leis
authors: Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, Ferrara University, Italy.
authors: Carmela
authors: C
authors: Vaccaro
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007558:Italy; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D011058:Pollen; D013172:Spores, Fungal
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Aspergillosis; Emilia-Romagna; Morphology; SEM–EDS; Wheat