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Amid the highest recorded pollen counts in history, Health24 will be bringing you exclusive pollen count updates courtesy of the UCT Lung Institute's Allergy and Immunology Unit.
Here are the major city updates for 28 May:
Cape Town (Western Cape)
Grass, tree, weed and mould counts were low during this sampling period. Tree pollen included gum tree (Myrtaceae), waxberry (Morella sp.) and forest elder (Nuxia sp.). The only weed pollen detected was from the daisy family (Asteraceae).
Count: 7 (moderate)
Johannesburg (Gauteng)
Grass, tree, weed and mould levels were low. Tree pollen detected during this sampling period included acacia (Acacia sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), gum tree (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinus sp.), karee (Rhus sp. / Searsia sp.), plane (Platanus sp.) and poplar (Populus sp.). Weed pollen present were the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type) and ericas (Ericaeae).
Count: 8 (moderate)
Pretoria (Gauteng)
Grasses were low. Low tree concentrations included coral tree (Erythrina sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), marula (Sclerocarya sp.) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds were low and included the daisy family (Asteraceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type) and hopbush (Dodonaea sp.). Moulds were low.
Count: 4 (low)
Bloemfontein (Orange Free State)
Grass, weed and mould counts were low for this sampling period. No tree pollen was detected. Weed pollen included the daisy family (Asteraceae) and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae).
Count: 4 (low)
Kimberley (Northern Cape)
Grass, weed and mould levels were low. No tree pollen was detected in this sampling period. Weed pollen present included the daisy family (Asteraceae) and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae).
Count: 7 (moderate)
Durban (KZN)
Grasses were low. Low tree levels included birch (Betulaceae), forest elder (Nuxia sp.), cypress (Cupressaceae) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weed levels were low and the types detected were protea (Proteaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds were low but close to the significant threshold.
Count: 3 (low)
Gqeberha (Eastern Cape)
Grasses were low. Trees were similarly low as only waxberry (Morella sp.), pine (Pinaceae) and olive (Oleaceae) were seen. Weeds were low as mugwort (Artemisia sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and protea (Proteaceae) were detected. Moulds were low.
Count: 4 (low)
See the full report HERE.
Reference ranges:
Overall, Trees, Grasses and Weeds all use the same values (grains per cubic metres of air)
Overall count is the daily average of pollen grains per cubic metres of air (trees plus grasses plus weeds).
In partnership with the the UCT Lung Institute's Allergy and Immunology Unit.
As the pollen problem worsens, precise and expanded monitoring becomes even more essential.
