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 Past Prime? Still Playing Hardball

“It looks like we may be past the peak of Pine,” says Dr. Dvorin “but the heat and humidity are also playing a role in pollen distribution. Outdoor mold spores are still very high, approaching extreme levels, and English Plantain weed pollen. When you consider what’s in the air—Pine Tree Pollen, Outdoor Molds, and Weeds plus the weather variable and the priming effect, the outlook is tough if you have allergies & asthma.”

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.”

Pine: Star Player Triples; Mold Batting Cleanup

“For individuals who today are sneezing, itching, have itchy watery eyes and/or other allergy & asthma symptoms, exposure to multiple aeroallergens—what’s in the air—especially pine pollen in our air matters now,” explains Dr. Goldstein. “Pine pollen makes our region unique from an allergy perspective compared to other areas of the Northeastern U.S. where pine pollen is minimal, nonexistent, or other species are prevalent.”

Dr. Dvorin El Nino Pollen Report

It’s an El Nino spring, with pollen and mold spore count reports resuming earlier than usual.