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Seasonal Variation of Airborne Fungal Diversity and Community Structure in Urmia Lake, Iran Publisher



Shamsaei S1 ; Jamal Hashemi S1, 2 ; Shahsavani A3 ; Daie Ghazvini R1 ; Rahimi Foroushani A4 ; Yarahmadi M5 ; Ahmadikia K1 ; Bakhshi H1 ; Raiesi O6, 7 ; Hassanpour P1 ; Ardi P1
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Food Microbiology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Air Quality and Climate Change Research Center, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Environment, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Nigeria
  5. 5. Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine Lorestan, University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Nigeria
  6. 6. Department of Parasitology, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
  7. 7. Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran

Source: International Journal of Environmental Health Research Published:2025


Abstract

A study conducted around Urmia Lake, Iran, investigated the impact of dust storms on fungal concentrations in the air. Researchers collected samples over a year, analyzing fungal variations during dusty and normal days. The average fungal concentration was found to be 436.2 CFU/m3, with Cladosporium cladosporioides, Penicillium chrysogenum, and Cladosporium iridis being the most prevalent species. Notably, fungal concentrations during dust days averaged 967.65 CFU/m3, which is 3.6 times higher than on normal days (267.10 CFU/m3). A total of 61 species were detected on normal days, compared to 45 on dusty days, with Aspergillus and Cladosporium spp. dominating both conditions. The study also linked environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and wind speed to fungal concentrations. Additionally, the distribution of dust was analyzed using the HYSPLIT model and MODIS satellite imagery, highlighting the health risks associated with high fungal concentrations and changing mycobiota due to dust disturbances. © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
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