Pollen and Mold Counts
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Bellingham / Whatcom
County
Pollen and Mold Counts |
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Pollen and mold counts are obtained from the Asthma & Allergy Center's pollen counting station utilizing a Rotorod Aeroallergen Sampler. Counts are updated three to five times a week and provide a general representation of pollen and mold counts throughout Bellingham and Whatcom County.
Readings reflect pollen and mold counts for the twenty-four hour period prior to seven a.m. of the day counts are updated. The number of pollen grains and mold spores per cubic meter is determined and reported according to the National Allergy Bureau's count designations.
Updated: July 1, 2009: Grass: 14, moderate . Tree: Cedar: 1, low. Mold 978, low.
Allergy symptoms this time of year are due to grass pollen primarily, and for some, weed pollen and mold spores.
(Mold spore count designations are different than those for pollens. See count designations above.)
Click on Pollen Allergy to learn more about how pollen causes allergy symptoms, and about treatment options.
Check out Pollen Seasons for an overview of the various allergy seasons in Bellingham and Whatcom County.
Allergy treatment hint: Over-the-counter allergy medications* alone may control symptoms for those with mild allergic rhinitis (nasal allergy) and conjunctivitis (eye allergy). Prescription nasal spray medication however is usually needed in addition to antihistamine therapy for allergy sufferers with moderate to severe disease. Nasal saline rinses can be also be helpful.
Treatment of allergy symptoms with over - the - counter medications:
* Over the counter medications that may be helpful in treating and/or preventing allergy symptoms include: antihistamines such as loratadine = Claritin, Cetirizine = Zyrtec (caution possible drowsiness). Nasalcrom nasal spray may be beneficial, including use before pollen/mold exposures. This medication can help reduce the amount of histamine that is released by mast cells in the nasal mucous membrane after allergen (pollen/mold) exposure. Eye drops might help as well including Ketotifen, the generic name for Zaditor . This is also best used before exposures to allergens. Saline (mild salt water) is often very helpful in cleansing the nasal passages. Products available include the neti pot or NeilMed. This can help remove pollens, irritants, dust, some histamine and mast cells from the nasal passages. It is important to do this gently to prevent saline from running into the ears through the eustachian tubes which open into the back of the nasal passages. Saline can also be used to rinse pollens and histamine from the eyes also.. Over- the-counter products include "Refresh" or similar eye drops which can be purchased as small vials of saline/eye lubricant, Bausch & Lomb eye rinse and Unisol 4 or similar products for contact lens wearers for gently irrigating the eyes.
Pollen counts from these western sites may be an early indicator of counts in our area. Seattle Vancouver Eugene
Previous 2009 counts below.
For pollen and mold counts throughout the U.S., visit the National Allergy Bureau's web site NAB.
To see what pollens look like under the microscope, view Photomicrographs
For more information about allergies, visit the Asthma & Allergy Center's web site;
Asthma & Allergy Center of Whatcom County
William Anderson MD
Located in the Barkley Medical Center, 2075 Barkley Blvd., Ste.220
Bellingham Washington
360-756-2000
2009 Past Pollen Counts
June 30, 2009: Grass: 10, moderate . Tree: Pine 1 low. Cedar: 1, low. Mold 891, low.
June 26, 2009: Grass: 10, moderate . Tree: Pine 2 low. Cedar: 1, low. Mold 1153, low.
June 24, 2009: Grass: 10, moderate . Tree: Pine 1 low. Cedar: 1, low. Mold 1329, low. (For our area, moderate)
June 23, 2009: Grass: 9, moderate . Tree: Pine 2 low. Cedar: 1, low. Mold 1796, low. (For our area, moderate)
June 19th, 2009: Grass: 9, moderate . Tree: Pine 1 low. Cedar: 1, low. Mold 672, low.
June 17th, 2009: Grass: 12, moderate . Weed: Nettle, 3 low. Tree: Pine 1 low. Cedar: 2, low. Mold 453, low.
June 16th, 2009: Grass: 20, high. . Weed: Nettle, 8 low. Tree: Pine 2 low. Cedar: 3, low. Mold 321, low.
Alder 1, Birch 1, low.
June 12th, 2009: Grass: 8, moderate. Weed: Nettle 12, moderate. Tree: Alder/Birch, cottonwood 2, low. Pine 2, low. Cedar: 2, low. Mold 297, low.
June 11th, 2009: Grass: 13, moderate. Weed: Nettle 12, moderate. Tree: Alder/Birch, cottonwood 5, low. Pine 3, low. Cedar: 4, low. Mold 277, low.
June 9th, 2009: Grass: 5, moderate. Weed: Nettle 15, moderate. Tree: Alder/Birch, cottonwood 5, moderate. Pine 2, low. Cedar: 3, low. Mold 618, low.
June 8th, 2009: Grass: 14, moderate. Weed: Nettle 24, moderate. Tree: Alder/Birch, cottonwood 5, moderate. Pine 6, low. Cedar: 3, low. Mold 832, low.
June 5th, 2009: Grass: 40, high ( 3x increase). Weed: Nettle 37, moderate. Tree: Alder/Birch, 22, moderate. Willow 3, low. Pine 17, moderate. Cedar: 10, low. Larch 5. Mold 849, low.
June 4th, 2009: Grass: 13, moderate. Weed: Nettle 18, moderate. Tree: Alder/Birch, cottonwood 14, moderate. Pine 2, low. Cedar: 3, low. Hemlock 1, Larch 1. Mold 555, low.
June 2nd, 2009: Grass: 12, moderate. Weed: Nettle 19, moderate. Tree: Alder/Birch, cottonwood 18, moderate. Pine 7, low. Cedar: 5, low. Hemlock 1, Larch 1. Mold 920, low. ( for our area relatively moderate)
Friday May 29, 2009: Grass: 4, low. Weed: Nettle 21, moderate. Tree: Alder/Birch 1, low. Pine 8, low. Cedar: 2, low. Mold 1095, low. ( for our area relatively moderate)
Thursday May 28, 2009: Grass: 3, low. Weed: Nettle 7, low. Tree: Alder/Birch 1, low. Pine 15, moderate. Cedar: 1, low. Mold 518, low.
Wednesday May 27, 2009: Grass: 4, low-moderate. Weed: Nettle 1, low. Tree: Pine 12, moderate. Cedar: 1, low. Mold 153, low.
Tuesday May 26, 2009: Grass: 2, low. Weed: Nettle 4, low. Tree: Alder/birch 2, low. Pine 13, moderate. Cedar: 5, low. Mold 292, low.
Monday May 25, 2009: Grass: 4, low - moderate. Weed: Nettle 4, low. Tree: Alder/birch 3, low. Pine 183, high. Cedar: 10, low. Mold 263, low.
Sunday, May 24, 2009: Grass: 1, low. Weed: Nettle 3, low. Tree: Alder/birch 1, low. Pine 16, moderate. Mold 438, low.
May 22, 2009: Grass: 7, moderate. Highest this year! Weed: Nettle 1, low. Tree: Alder/birch 1, low. Pine 64, moderate. Mold 299, low.
May 21, Grass: 1, low. Weed: Nettle 1, low. Tree: Alder/birch 1, low. Willow 1. Pine 26, moderate. Mold 16, low.
May 20, 2009: Grass: 2, low. Tree: Alder/birch 1, low. Cedar/Juniper 1. Hemlock 1. Willow 1. Pine 93, moderate. Mold 43, low.
May 18, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder 1, low. Cottonwood 1, low. Willow 2, low. Hemlock 3, low. Cedar 2, low. Pine, 30, moderate. Tree Total: (birch, alder, cottonwood, willow) 4, low. Mold 51, low. Grass: 1, low.
May 13, 2009: Tree Pollen continues to be low with alder, birch, cottonwood, willow. Also, cedar, larch, hemlock, pine. Grass pollen detected today, less than 1/m³. Mold is low.
May 12, 2009: Tree Pollen is low with alder, birch, cottonwood, willow. Also, cedar, larch, hemlock, pine. Grass pollen not detected. Mold is low.
May 8, 2009: Tree Pollen low-moderate, alder/birch. Grass pollen: detected, low, less than 1/m³. Mold is low.
May 7, 2009: Due to the rain, pollen and mold counts are low.
May 6, 2009: Due to the rain, pollen and mold counts are low. However, grass pollen will soon appear and start to cause allergy symptoms.
Monday May 5, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder 2, low. Birch 22, moderate. Cottonwood 2, low. Willow 5, low. Cedar 1, low. Hemlock 5, low. Larch 4, low. Tree Total: (birch, alder, cottonwood, willow) 31, moderate. Mold 49, low.
Friday May 1, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder 5, low. Birch 16, moderate. Cottonwood 1, low. Cedar 9, low. Hemlock 3, low. Larch 5, low. Tree Total: (birch, alder, cottonwood, willow) 30, moderate. Mold 577, low.
Thursday April 30, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder 2, low. Birch 69, moderate. Cottonwood 1, low. Cedar 4, low. Hemlock 1, low. Larch 5, low. Tree Total: (birch, alder, cottonwood) 31, moderate. Mold 511, low.
Wednesday April 29, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder 37, moderate. Birch 329, high. Cottonwood 22, moderate. Cedar 66, moderate. Hemlock 44, moderate. Larch 15, moderate. Tree Total: (birch, alder, cottonwood) 331, High. Mold 219, low.
Tuesday April 28, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder 15, low-moderate. Birch 372, high. Cottonwood 7, low. Cedar 44. Hemlock 88, moderate-high. Larch 117, high. Willow 7, low. Tree Total: (birch, alder, cottonwood) 394, High. Mold 183, low.
Grass pollen: not detected.
Monday April 27, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder 15, low-moderate.. Birch 204, moderate. Cottonwood not detected. Cedar 15. Hemlock 22, low. Tree Total: (not counting cedar/juniper or hemlock) 219, High. Mold 190, low.
* Grass pollen: 1 detected on the pollen counting rod, corresponding to less than 1 per cubic meter. First of the grass season!
Friday April 24, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder 5, low. Birch 54, moderate. Cottonwood not detected. Cedar 7. Hemlock 5, low. Tree Total: (not counting cedar/juniper or hemlock) 59, Moderate. Mold 73, low.
Thursday April 23, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder not detected. Birch 161, high. Cottonwood not detected. Cedar 51, moderate. Hemlock 29, moderate. Tree Total: (not counting cedar/juniper or hemlock) 161, High. Mold 73, low.
Wednesday April 22, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder 29, moderate. Birch 788, high. Cottonwood 37, moderate. Cedar 51, moderate. Hemlock 29, moderate. Tree Total: (not counting cedar/juniper or hemlock) 854, High. Mold 146, low.
Tuesday April 21, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder 37, moderate. Birch 489, high. Cottonwood 37, moderate. Cedar 66, moderate. Hemlock 37, moderate. Tree Total: (not counting cedar/juniper or hemlock) 563, High. Mold 183, low.
Monday April 20, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder 22, moderate. Birch 212, high. Cottonwood 37, moderate. Cedar 73, moderate. Hemlock 22 moderate. Tree Total: (not counting cedar/juniper or hemlock) 271, High. Mold 350, low.
Friday April 17, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder 58, moderate. Birch 1066, high. Cottonwood 88, moderate. Cedar 29,
moderate. Hemlock 7. Tree Total: (not counting cedar/juniper or hemlock) 1212, High. Mold 37, low.
Thursday April 16, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder 22, moderate. Birch 628 high. Cottonwood 51, moderate. Cedar 80, moderate.
Tree Total: (not counting cedar/juniper) 701, High. Hemlock 7. Mold 117, low.
Wednesday April 15, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder 44, moderate, Birch 613 high, Cottonwood 80, moderate. Cedar29, moderate.
Tree Total: (not counting cedar/juniper) 737, High. Mold 58, low. Hemlock 7.
Tuesday April 14, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder and Birch: 453, high. Cottonwood 88, moderate - high. Cedar 7, low.
Tree Total: (not counting cedar/juniper) 526, High. Mold 22, low.
Friday April 10, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder 146, high. Cottonwood 190, high. Cedar 15, moderate.
Tree Total: (not counting cedar/juniper) 336, High Mold 66, low.
Thursday April 9, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder 445, high. Birch 438, high. Cottonwood 219, high. Cedar 37, high.
Tree Total: (not counting cedar/juniper) 1102, High Mold 66, low.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009Tree pollen: Alder 621, high. Birch 876, high. Cottonwood 453, high. Cedar 88, high.
Tree Total: (not counting cedar/juniper) 1950, Very High ! Mold 445, low.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder 540, high. Birch 445, high. Cottonwood 350, high. Cedar 131, high.
Tree Total: (not counting cedar/juniper) 1335, High Mold 380, low.
Monday, April 6, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder 715, high. Birch 781, high. Cottonwood 161, high. Cedar 161, high.
Tree Total: (not counting cedar/juniper) 1657 Very High ! Mold 453, low.
Friday, April 3, 2009: Tree pollen: Alder 226, high. Birch 95, high. Cottonwood 58, moderate. Cedar 22, low-moderate. Tree
Total: 401 high. Mold 380, low.
April 2, 2009: Low pollen and mold counts due to weather conditions: Tree, alder 1, Mold 7 low.
March 25, 2009: Trees: Alder 88, moderate, Birch 124, high, Cottonwood 124, high. Cedar/juniper 37 moderate. Mold 241,
low. For Alder, Birch, Cottonwood: Total 336, high.
March 24, 2009: Trees: Alder 270 high, Birch 256 high, Cottonwood 58, moderate. Cedar/juniper 102 high.
Mold 73 low. For Alder, Birch, Cottonwood: Total 584 high.
March 23, 2009: Trees: Alder 540 high, Birch 307 high, and Cottonwood 66, moderate. Cedar/juniper 22
moderate. Mold 0. For Alder, Birch, Cottonwood: Total 913 high.
March 20 2009 : Trees: Alder 314, Birch 102, and Cottonwood 44. Cedar/juniper 1329 high. Mold 15, low.
March 18 2009 : Trees: Birch 58, and Alder 408, High. Cedar/juniper 95 moderate. Mold 239, low.
March 16, 2009 : Trees: Birch 29, and Alder 51, total 80, moderate. Cedar/juniper 657 high. Mold 110, low.
March 12, 2009 : Trees: Birch and Alder 22, moderate. Cedar/juniper 7 low. Mold 5, low.
March 5, 2009 Trees: Birch 0, Alder 80 moderate. Cedar/juniper 577 high. Mold 110 low.
March 6: Trees: Birch 7, Alder 88 moderate-high, Cedar/juniper 387 high. Mold 329, low.
March 3, 2009 Trees high: Birch and Alder 117 high. Cedar 1365 high. Mold 160 low.
February 23 and 24 averaged: Trees 26 birch moderate, 631 cedar high. Mold 110, low.
February 17, 2009 Tree pollen 12, low, birch.
February 23, 2009 Trees: Birch 36, moderate. Cedar 438 high. Mold 128 low.
