Impacts of Long-Range Transport on the Concentration, Composition, and Persistence of Airborne Fungi in Northern Taiwan.

Airborne fungi are important components of atmospheric bioaerosols and are associated with environmental exposure risks. While long-range transport (LRT) is known to influence particulate pollution, its effects on fungal concentrations and community composition, particularly under non-dust conditions, remain insufficiently understood. This study investigated wintertime LRT impacts on airborne fungi in northern Taiwan using daily monitoring data. Fungal levels before, during, and after Asian dust storms (ADS) and frontal pollution (FP) events were compared to assess changes in concentration, composition, and persistence. LRT increased fungal concentrations by 57-193% during events and by 17-69% in post-event periods. FP enhanced fungal concentrations more broadly than dust events. Distinct fungal assemblages were associated with different transport regimes, with ADS enriching Basidiospores and Cladosporium, and FP increasing Aspergillus/Penicillium, Cladosporium, Ascospores, Cladosporium, and other taxa. Elevated fungal levels persisted for one to four days after event passage, indicating extended atmospheric influence. These findings demonstrate that both dust and non-dust LRT events can significantly influence fungal exposure in downwind regions. By quantifying both the magnitude and persistence of fungal enhancements, this study provides new evidence for assessing transport-driven bioaerosol exposure.