Morning Might Be the Best Time to Avoid Pollen, Study Finds

As a rule of thumb, folks with hay fever could need to keep away from going outdoors after 2pm. A brand new research launched this week discovered that pollen counts are usually lowest in the course of the morning hours and highest throughout mid-afternoon into the late night.

Researchers in Atlanta carried out the research, utilizing a not too long ago developed system meant to measure pollen concentrations by taking automated and real-time photos of collected air. Their earlier analysis found that this system is roughly as correct as the present gold commonplace for measuring pollen, which entails manually counting pollen grains collected by a sampling system left outdoors. They positioned their sensors at three totally different places in and round Atlanta, amassing measurements all through the final week of March 2021.

On common, they discovered that pollen counts tended to be highest from 2pm to 9pm, and lowest from 4am to midday. The staff’s findings have been presented this week on the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI)’s Annual Scientific Meeting.

The research’s outcomes haven’t been revealed in a peer-reviewed journal, so they need to be seen with some added warning. And it’s recognized that several types of pollen can change into extra of a nuisance throughout totally different instances of the day at totally different durations of the 12 months. According to the ACAAI, for example, pollen ranges are regarded as highest within the night in the course of the spring and summer time when tree and grass pollen is most typical, whereas they’re thought to be highest within the mornings throughout late summer time and early fall when ragweed is most typical. But the research’s lead creator Stanley Fineman, an allergist at Emory University, believes that their findings may be capable to present some steering to folks with these allergy symptoms.

“People who have pollen allergies can generally benefit from knowing at what times of day pollen counts are highest,” stated Fineman in a statement supplied by the ACAAI.

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Regardless of when, precisely, pollen is most ample, there are sensible steps you may take to cut back your publicity to it, the authors notice.

“I see patients every spring and fall who are really suffering due to their pollen allergies,” stated Fineman. “There are ways to diminish the impact of pollen during allergy season, including closing windows and taking off shoes and pollen-laden clothes when you walk in your door, and immediately throwing your clothes in the washing machine. If you are someone who enjoys outdoor activities, you need to be aware of when pollen counts are lowest, and what times are best for you to be outside. Weather apps and websites are a good way to monitor pollen levels in your area.”

Unfortunately, this recommendation will solely be extra related over time since pollen seasons are anticipated to become longer and more intense within the years to come back, thanks in no small half to local weather change.