Fungi cause allergies and other adverse health effects. The Oklahoma atmosphere contains high concentrations and many types of aeroallergens from fungal spores and pollen. Some of the most common allergenic fungi include Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Drechslera, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Smut spores. The main objective of this study was to compare spore levels in Tulsa with those in two rural areas, Bixby and Cushing.
Data analyses for Burkard slides from September 2000 at each site revealed that there is a difference between the total spores concentrations as well as concentrations of each fungal type.