Pollen counts lowest earlier in day, making it best outdoor time for those with allergies
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LOUISVILLE, Ky — Pollen counts appeared lowest from 4 a.m. to 12 p.m., suggesting patients with pollen allergies may want to time their outdoor activities to occur during this period, according to study results.
“Patients with pollen allergy should be encouraged to do their outdoor activities in the early morning before noon when pollen counts are lower,” Stanley Fineman, MD, MBA, FACAAI, an allergist at Atlanta Allergy & Asthma, told Healio. “Previously, we thought that pollen counts peaked early in the morning, so we were somewhat surprised by this finding that the pollen increases beginning at noon and peaks in the afternoon and evening when it is warmer.”
Fineman and colleagues assessed the accuracy of measuring pollen using APS-300 (Pollen Sense), an automated real-time pollen imaging sensor, compared with manual counting using a Rotorod Sampler (IQVIA) at a site approximately 30 km northwest of downtown Atlanta.
From this assessment, research reported that collecting hourly pollen counts is “difficult,” but using the automated real-time pollen imaging sensor was accurate.
Next, researchers evaluated the fluctuations in pollen levels throughout the day from March 24-31, 2021, at this site as well as another site approximately 7 km northeast of downtown Atlanta and one site located in downtown Atlanta.
Results, presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting, showed the lowest pollen levels between 4 a.m. to 12 p.m., with a gradual increase thereafter, and levels peaking between 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
“We have been monitoring pollen counts for years in order to determine which local allergens are triggering allergic symptoms in our patients,” Fineman said. “In general, pollen counts are collected daily and this new technology enables us to check pollen counts in real-time and therefore we found that there was significant variation in pollen peak throughout the day.”
Thus, patients with pollen allergy should plan their outdoor activities to occur in the morning, the researchers wrote, in addition to practicing other habits that would reduce their pollen exposure.
“People who have pollen allergies can generally benefit from knowing what times of day pollen counts are highest,” Fineman said in a press release from the ACAAI.
“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,” he said, adding that weather websites are a good way of monitoring local pollen levels.
Fineman told Healio that he and his colleagues will continue to analyze the use of artificial intelligence and real-time pollen counting to help patients manage their allergy triggers.
Reference:
- Lowest pollen counts occur between 4:00 a.m. and noon. https://annualmeeting.acaai.org/2022/lowest-pollen-counts.cfm. Published Nov. 10, 2022. Accessed Nov. 10, 2022.