Tales from the Microscope: Unusual Mold Alert

“I see a few of these every day, but today’s aspergillus-penicillium is unusual which may be related to increased humidity in our region.” That’s the word from Dr. Dvorin after counting today’s air sample. Typically, aspergillus-penicillium counts are under 100 mold spores per cubic meter of air/24 period. Today, aspergillus-penicillium counts are over 1400 mold spores per cubic meter of air/24 period. Exposure to mold spores can also provoke flares of asthma. Chronic sinusitis is also sometimes related to mold spore exposure. Other less common reactions to mold spores include allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS.) The Asthma Center specialists have tremendous experience in evaluating and treating mold allergy including ABPA and AFS.

Pine & Weed Pollen Double Header

Today, pine tree pollen accounts for 75% of all tree pollen currently in the air. There are many kinds of weeds which produce pollen in the Delaware Valley with most typically producing pollen from August through September. However, a few types of weeds produce pollen during the early and midsummer seasons. Plantago lanceolata (commonly known as English Plantain) is one of the “early weeds.”