Pollen Levels of Grass
Pollen, a fine or coarse powder containing seed particles, can cause an allergic response such as sneezing and coughing. Pollen levels are counted in grass, mold, trees and weeds to alert "hay fever" sufferers. According to the National Institutes of Health, pollen levels are lower in the late afternoon or after a soaking rain. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
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Counts
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The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology keeps daily track of the pollen levels of grass, molds, weeds and trees. The AAAAI reports the findings on its website. Pollen counts indicate the number of pollen grains or mold spores per cubic meter.
Concentration
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Grass pollen levels, or counts, are shown as one of five concentration levels. The concentration levels are absent, low, moderate, medium or high. Some days pollen levels are not counted in a month or season with no historical reported grass allergens. Counts are updated three to five times per week.
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Calculating Levels
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Grass pollen levels, and other allergens, are calculated based on the per cubic meter data reported by all certified counting stations for trees, grasses, weeds and molds. Grass counts from 1 to 4 are considered low, 5 to 19 are moderate, 20 to 199 are high and counts over 200 are very high.
Types
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Grass pollen is regional and seasonal. Grass pollen levels are also affected by temperature, time and rain. In North America alone, there are more than 1,200 species of grass, but only a small percentage of these grasses cause allergies. The most common grasses that can cause allergies are Bermuda, Johnson, Kentucky bluegrass, orchard, sweet vernal, and Timothy grass, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Seasonal
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According to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration 2009 allergy report, spring and summer are grass pollen seasons. In these seasons pollen levels are highest in the evening.
Counting Stations
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Pollen and mold counts are obtained from the AAAAI's pollen counting station using a Rotorod Aeroallergen Sampler, a lightweight, portable sampler with an extended arm that holds two cubical rods coated with silicon grease. Each state has a pollen counting station that reports its findings to the National Allergy Bureau of AAAAI.
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References
- FDA: Consumer Updates: Itching for Allergy Relief? ( April 29, 2009)
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology: Levels: Reading Charts
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: National Institutes of Health: Allergens and Irritants
- Bellingham / Whatcom County: Pollen and Mold Counts
Resources
- Photo Credit grass image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
