Airborne pollen and fungal spores in the atmospheric aerosol of Cartagena

[SPA] Esta tesis presenta la caracterización aeropalinologica aerosoles de la atmósfera de Cartagena, tanto de polen como esporas de hongos. La tesis se ha estructurado en 7 capítulos: introducción, objetivos, recursos bibliográficos, materiales y métodos, resultados, discusión y conclusiones. El objetivo principal fue evaluar la presencia de polen en suspensión en el aire y de esporas de hongos en los aerosoles de la atmósfera de Cartagena, a fin de establecer los calendarios de polen y esporas y para estudiar el efecto de los parámetros meteorológicos en su hora, y la variación estacional. Los recursos bibliográficos con una amplia revisión de los conocimientos de todo este asunto las distintas zonas geográficas en el mundo.Dos metodologías complementarias se han utilizado para el desarrollo de este estudio: un efecto de toma de muestras de tipo Hirst, y una activa toma de muestras de filtración patentada por Suárez-Cervera y Seoane-Camba. El estudio se llevó a cabo durante 6 años. Los resultados se presentan por medio de Tablas y Figuras de polen de cada taxón o especie de hongos. Estadística de análisis se llevaron a cabo utilizando el paquete de software de SPSS 9.1 para Windows.Se han identificado 44 tipos de polen en la atmósfera de Cartagena, pertenecientes a 36 familias diferentes, con 14 de ellos forman el espectro de polen principal en la ciudad, que se incluyeron en el calendario de polen. A lo largo del estudio, los principales tipos de polen identificados fueron: Urticaceae, Cupressaceae, Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae, Pinaceae, Oleaceae, Poaceae, Quercus, y Zygophyllum. El polen más alto se determinó durante el proceso de pre-primavera-primavera. En invierno, el polen predominante fue Cupressaceae, y durante el otoño, el polen dominante fue Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae, alcanzando 63,7% del total de polen. 98 esporas de hongos morfológicamente diferentes fueron identificados, pertenecientes a: Deuteromycetes, Ascomycetes, basidiomicetos, Oomycetes, Zygomycetes, y Myxomycetes. Un 62 por ciento de estas esporas de hongos pertenecía a la clase Deuteromycetes .De acuerdo a estos resultados, el aerosol atmosférico de Cartagena puede ser identificado como típico de aire seco, siendo principalmente representada por Cladosporium, Alternaria y Ustilago. La principal temporada de primavera de hongos, seguida de otoño debido a la presencia de esporas de Agaricus. La temporada de hongos con el menor fue de Invierno. Durante la hora de verano, la escasez de precipitaciones y altas temperaturas, con una disminución en el total de esporas de hongos. En este trabajo presentamos los resultados del estudio del bioareosol atmosférico de Cartagena, pólenes y esporas, caracterizando los tipos presentes en nuestra atmósfera, el grado de exposición y su fenología, intentando establecer algunas de las relaciones existentes entre las concentraciones de estas partículas en el bioaerosol y determinados fenómenos meteorológicos con los que se relacionan.. [ENG] This PhD presents the aropalynological characterization of the atmospheric aerosol of Cartagena, including both pollen and fungal spores. The dissertation has been structured within 7 chapters: introduction, objectives, bibliographical resources, materials and methods, results, discussion, and conclusions. The main aim was to evaluate the presence of airborne pollen and fungal spores in the atmospheric aerosol of Cartagena, in order to establish pollen and spores calendars and to study the effect of local meteorological parameters in their hour, seasonal and year variation. The bibliographical resources deal with an extended revision of the knowledge of this matter all over the different geographical zones in the World. Two complementary methodologies have been used for the development of this study: an active-impact sampler Hirst type, and a active-filtration sampler patented by Suárez-Cervera and Seoane-Camba. The study was carried out during 6 years. The results are presented by means of Tables and Figures for each pollen taxon or fungal specie. Statistic analyses were carried out using the software package SPSS 9.1 for Windows. 44 pollen types have been identified in the atmosphere of Cartagena, belonging to 36 different Families, with 14 of them forming the main pollen spectrum in the city, which were included in the pollen calendar. Along the study, the main identified pollen types were: Urticaceae, Cupressaceae, Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae, Pinaceae, Oleaceae, Poaceae, Quercus , and Zygophyllum . The highest pollen counts were determined during pre-spring-spring season. During winter time, the predominant pollen was Cupressaceae, and during Autumn, the dominant pollen was Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae, reaching 63.7% of total pollen count.98 morphologically different fungal spores were identified, belonging to: Deuteromycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, Oomycetes, Zygomycetes, and Myxomycetes. A 62 percent of these fungal spores belonged to Deuteromycetes class.According to these results, the atmospheric aerosol of Cartagena can be identified as typical dry air, being mainly represented by ladosporium, Alternaria and Ustilago. The main fungal season was Spring, followed by Autumn because of the presence of spores of Agaricus. The season with the lowest fungal count was Winter. During summer time, the scarce of rainfall and high temperatures, deal with a decrease in total fungal spores. The results for fungal spores are illustrated with color pictures of 120 cultures of viable isolated fungi, with the use of Suárez-Cervera and Seoane-Camba methodology, and 94 identified spores with the optic microscope and the Hirst sampler. All this knowledge can be used for the study of allergy, quality control of indoor and outdoor environment, professional diseases, crop prediction, and the study of climate and vegetation changes.[ENG] This PhD presents the aropalynological characterization of the atmospheric aerosol of Cartagena, including both pollen and fungal spores. The dissertation has been structured within 7 chapters: introduction, objectives, bibliographical resources, materials and methods, results, discussion, and conclusions. The main aim was to evaluate the presence of airborne pollen and fungal spores in the atmospheric aerosol of Cartagena, in order to establish pollen and spores calendars and to study the effect of local meteorological parameters in their hour, seasonal and year variation. The bibliographical resources deal with an extended revision of the knowledge of this matter all over the different geographical zones in the World. Two complementary methodologies have been used for the development of this study: an active-impact sampler Hirst type, and a active-filtration sampler patented by Suárez-Cervera and Seoane-Camba. The study was carried out during 6 years. The results are presented by means of Tables and Figures for each pollen taxon or fungal specie. Statistic analyses were carried out using the software package SPSS 9.1 for Windows. 44 pollen types have been identified in the atmosphere of Cartagena, belonging to 36 different Families, with 14 of them forming the main pollen spectrum in the city, which were included in the pollen calendar. Along the study, the main identified pollen types were: Urticaceae, Cupressaceae, Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae, Pinaceae, Oleaceae, Poaceae, Quercus , and Zygophyllum . The highest pollen counts were determined during pre-spring-spring season. During winter time, the predominant pollen was Cupressaceae, and during Autumn, the dominant pollen was Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae, reaching 63.7% of total pollen count.98 morphologically different fungal spores were identified, belonging to: Deuteromycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, Oomycetes, Zygomycetes, and Myxomycetes. A 62 percent of these fungal spores belonged to Deuteromycetes class.According to these results, the atmospheric aerosol of Cartagena can be identified as typical dry air, being mainly represented by ladosporium, Alternaria and Ustilago. The main fungal season was Spring, followed by Autumn because of the presence of spores of Agaricus. The season with the lowest fungal count was Winter. During summer time, the scarce of rainfall and high temperatures, deal with a decrease in total fungal spores. The results for fungal spores are illustrated with color pictures of 120 cultures of viable isolated fungi, with the use of Suárez-Cervera and Seoane-Camba methodology, and 94 identified spores with the optic microscope and the Hirst sampler. All this knowledge can be used for the study of allergy, quality control of indoor and outdoor environment, professional diseases, crop prediction, and the study of climate and vegetation changes.Programa de doctorado en Ingeniería Ambiental y Procesos Químico