Pollen counts

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Pollen counts

Pollen counts measure the amount of pollen allergens in the air. Pollen counts are stated as grains of pollen per cubic meter of air.

Weeds

• 1 to 9 is a low pollen count.
• 10 to 49 is a moderate pollen count.
• 50 to 499 is a high pollen count.
• 500 or higher is a very high pollen count.

Grasses

• 1 to 4 is a low pollen count.
• 5 to 19 is a moderate pollen count.
• 20 to 199 is a high pollen count.
• 200 or higher is a very high pollen count.

Trees

• 1 to 14 is a low pollen count.
• 15 to 89 is a moderate pollen count.
• 90 to 1,499 is a high pollen count.
• 1,500 or higher is a very high pollen count.

Molds

Mold produces spores that move, like pollen, in outdoor air during warmer months.

• 1 to 6,499 is a low spore count.
• 6,500 to 12,999 is a moderate spore count.
• 13,000 to 49,999 is a high spore count.
• 50,000 or higher is a very high spore count.

During the allergy season, local TV stations, newspapers, or medical centers may report pollen counts. If you have allergies, find out who reports pollen counts, so you can avoid pollen when the counts are high. You may also look up the National Allergy Bureau's Web site for pollen count information at http://www.aaaai.org/nab/index.cfm?p=reading_charts.

Credits

Last updated:	August 08, 2007
Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH
Reviewed By:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Harold S. Nelson, MD - Allergy and Immunology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman