What is Pollen?
So what is pollen?
Pollen are the tiny, male cells of flowering plants. The worst pollens are the ones that spread by wind, like the ones from trees, grasses and weeds. Unfortunately for us, these pollens can travel hundreds of miles.
What affects pollen levels?
The plants in your area affect the amount of pollen in the air but so do weather conditions. Moderate temperatures with low humidity and a gentle breeze make pollen worse. (Sounds like the weather outside, doesn’t it?) High levels of humidity, windless days, and rain all lower pollen levels.
Trees are the earliest pollen producers. Trees can aggravate your allergies even if they’re miles away. Of the 50,000 different kinds of trees, less than 100 have been shown to cause allergies. Most allergies are because of trees like: catalpa, elm, hickory, olive, pecan, sycamore, and walnut. Or the males of certain trees (the female of these trees are totally pollen-free): ash, box elder, cottonwood, maple (red), maple (silver), poplar, and willow. Preventive Strategies
- If you buy trees for your yard, look for species that do not cause allergies such as crape myrtle, dogwood, fig, fir, palm, pear, plum, redbud and redwood trees or the female ash, box elder, cottonwood, maple, palm, poplar or willow trees.
- Avoid the outdoors between 5-10 AM. Save outside activities for late afternoon or after a heavy rain, when pollen levels are lower.
- Keep windows in your home and car closed. To keep cool, use air conditioners and avoid using window and attic fans.
- Be aware that pollen can also be brought indoors on people and pets.
- Dry your clothes in an automatic dryer rather than hanging them outside. Otherwise pollen can collect on clothing and be carried indoors.
Grass Pollen
Of the 1,200 species of grass that grow in North America, only a few cause allergies. The most common grasses that can cause allergies are: Bermuda grass, Johnson grass, Kentucky bluegrass, Orchard grass, Sweet vernal grass, and Timothy grass. Preventive Strategies
- If you have a grass lawn, have someone else do the mowing. If you must mow the lawn yourself, wear a mask.
- Keep grass cut short.
- Choose ground covers that don’t produce much pollen, such as Irish moss, bunch, and dichondra.
- Avoid the outdoors between 5-10 AM. Save outside activities for late afternoon or after a heavy rain, when pollen levels are lower.
- Keep windows in your home and car closed. To keep cool, use air conditioners and avoid using window and attic fans.
- Be aware that pollen can also be brought indoors on people and pets.
- Dry your clothes in an automatic dryer rather than hanging them outside. Otherwise pollen can collect on clothing and be carried indoors.
This information provided by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
For more allergy resources and information, please visit the PhillyHealthInfo.org Allergies page.
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