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Low
Levels of Mulberry Pollen Seen at Monitoring Sites
Pollen
season is already here, and allergen sufferers
throughout the County have felt the effects.
“Mulberry
pollen has already peaked with 37,778 grains per cubic
meter recorded at the Boulder City pollen site,” said
Monte Symmonds, senior monitoring technician with Clark
County’s Department of Air Quality and Environmental
Management.
Pollen
from ash, pine, and cedar trees has contributed to the
high allergen levels. Mulberry trees, in particular, can
trigger hay fever and asthma symptoms, including stuffy
noses, runny eyes and coughing. The worst of the
mulberry season will be over by the end of March just as
olive trees start to bloom. Olive trees are another
major source of aggravation for allergy sufferers,
officials say.
Pollen
counts from different trees and plants tend to start
climbing in March. The season is usually over in May.
This year air quality officials expect pollen season to
end early to mid-May.
“Mulberry
and olive trees tend to produce the most pollen during
allergy season, but grass, weeds and other types of
trees also are culprits” Symmonds said.
From
March through May, Air Quality staff double pollen
collection efforts from once to twice a week at 10
monitoring stations located throughout the Las Vegas
Valley. The samples are then processed in the
department’s lab at the DAQEM Meade facility. During
the spring season, pollen count reports are updated
usually on Wednesdays and Fridays. Each report is posted
on the county’s website at www.accessclarkcounty.com.
From the home page, go to the Air Quality Department’s
monitoring section. Pollen data is listed under
“Recent Pollen Report.” Pollen counts and air
quality reports also are recorded once a day, Monday
through Friday, at (702)
385-4613.
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