We’ve moved into prime spring allergy conditions now that the weather is warming up and we’re switching from heating to air conditioning. We know that fungus spores cause allergy reactions, but what about dead spores, like the kind that accumulate over the winter?
Dr. Harriet Burge, director of aerobiology at EM Lab P&K in San Bruno, CA, is the recognized expert in indoor air quality, and recently answered this question in the industry newsletter, Indoor Environment Connections.
Her answer is no, dead fungi can’t germinate, so it can’t cause an allergic reaction. She said that recent research indicates that spores may have to actually germinate before their allergens can be released. To germinate, spores need to be wet, and have both oxygen and nutrients. The bad news: our respiratory mucous membranes provide all the right conditions for some spores to begin germination and release their allergens, causing an allergy attack.
Some fungi germinate in nature, release allergens, and cause an attack. Some fungi germinate in us, release allergens, and cause an attack! Not all fungi can germinate in the human respiratory tract, and some allergy attacks are caused by other allergen sources like pollen, cat or pet dander and dust mites.
Getting rid of spores and other allergens is the place to start in allergy control. Our research indicates best measures for controlling allergy attacks from indoor air include:
- Reducing pet dander by keeping pets out of the bedroom, and perhaps using an anti-dander fur wipe from your vet
- Encasing pillows and mattresses to control dust mites
- Controlling mold and mildew. The EPA has good information and action steps. You may need professional help with this.
- Using a HEPA filter on your vacuum and vacuuming often
- Using a whole-house or room HEPA filter on your air conditioning unit. It’s a good idea to clean your air, even if you don’t usually want to cool it.