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Air Quality Specialist Finds High Pollen Levels in Elm Trees

by KREX News Room
by Taylor Kanost

Story Created: Mar 14, 2013 at 4:58 PM MDT

Story Updated: Mar 14, 2013 at 5:13 PM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION,Colo.- Air quality specialists at the Mesa County Health Department collected their first pollen sample of the year, and found some surprising results.

Warm weather and longer days have contributed to high pollen levels in trees this week, particularly elm trees.

Air quality specialist, Edward Brotsky, was not expecting such high counts, but says the count is "Not terribly out of the ordinary."

Pollen is expected to remain high over the weekend as temperatures stay well above normal.

Elm and poplar trees are the most common pollen producers in the springtime according to Brotsky.

The majority of pollen switches to grass in the summer, then weed pollen in the fall.

Elm tree pollen count in this sample was 119, while poplar was only 1.

For tree pollen, a count between 0-15 quailifies as low, 16-90 qualifies as medium, and 91-1500 qualifies as high.

More information about the sample can be found at http://health.mesacounty.us/environment/air/template.aspx?id=3371.



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