Fungal Clouds Pose an Emerging Threat to Human Health

According to researchers, newly discovered substances can cause allergies or asthma attacks.

Scientists from the University of California have discovered unknown particles of fungal spores in the atmosphere posing a great threat to human health. It happened accidentally, while they were testing a new device to study air.

The researchers collected particles measuring 20 to 60 nanometers in diameter. After placing them onto a thin platinum filament, the scientists discovered fungi spores sized less than 30 nanometers. Most likely, the detected substances have been present in the Earth atmosphere before, but we could not detect them for purely technical reasons.

Now that we have the equipment enabling us to see such objects in high resolution, the researchers are thinking about the harm such spores can do to human health. Their small size allows them to get into the respiratory system causing allergies or even asthma. They can also quickly form ice around themselves and absorb moisture from the air.