Pollen Counts

As most people know, plants bloom and give off pollen at different times of the year. Different allergic people can be allergic to different pollens. That’s why one person is sneezing and itchy-eyed at one time, and three weeks later it can be someone else’s turn.

It’s very helpful for us to know what is blooming when, so we can diagnose the specific allergy. Also, if you already know what you are allergic to, it’s helpful for you to know what’s in the air so you know what to expect.

How do we know what’s blooming when? We use devices to capture airborne pollens, and an allergist or aerobiologist examines these pollens under a microscope and identifies the type of plant that produced it. There are a number of collecting stations throughout the United States. Here is the link that helps us the most to know what’s happening in the East Bay: