Atmospheric pollen and fungal spores in Hamilton in 1972 estimated by the Hirst automatic volumetric spore trap.

A knowledge of the atmospheric pollen and fungal spores is necessary for the diagnosis and management of extrinsic rhinitis and asthma. The Hirst automatic volumetric spore trap has been used for the first time in Canada to identify the quantitative and seasonal incidence of these particles. The trap is easy to operate and has several advantages over the previously used gravity samplers. Tree, grass and ragweed pollens occurred in short, well-defined seasons. Fungal spores greatly outnumbered pollen by 120 to one, and occurred in long, ill-defined seasons. They included large numbers of small basidiospores and ascospores which have previously not been detected in Canada. The latter have not been considered as potential allergens; their clinical importance requires investigation.