Frequently Asked Questions About Pollen Forecasting And Sampling for Allergy Alerts

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Could you include ozone and particulate levels (dust, pollution, smoke) in your forecasts?

To determine our forecasts, the Allergy Alert staff receives pollen counts from pollen counting stations across the country. Many of our stations are allergy clinics or universities, whose primary interest is in pollen types that cause allergy symptoms. These stations use a pollen sampler to obtain a sample of their environment. The stations then analyze the sample under a microscope to determine the level and types of pollen in the air. We gather the counts from them and produce a forecast based on actual and historical counts and current and forecasted weather conditions. Most pollen counting stations do not check for the level of particulates or pollution in the air.

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