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| Pollen |
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| Fungal Sampling Information |
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| Pollen as seen under a microscope. |
| Non Fungal Sampling Information |
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| Qualtest, Inc. 2458 Alton Parkway Irvine, CA 92606 Phone: (949) 838-0378 Contact Us |
Introduction
People are usually aware that outdoor air pollution can affect their health but
they may not know that indoor air pollution can also have significant effects.
EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants reported that indoor air
concentrations of many pollutants may be 2-5 times, and on some occasions
more than 100 times, higher than outdoor concentrations. These high levels of
indoor air pollutants are of particular concern because it is estimated that most
people spend more than 90% of their time indoors. Unlike outdoor air, indoor
air is recycled again and again. This causes it to trap and build up pollutants.
Common pollutants include dust, mold and spores, pollen, pet dander and
smoke. Millions of Americans suffer from sneezing, coughing, itching, runny
noses, and watering eyes due to airborne pollens.
Pollens
Pollens are microscopic grains produced by plants including trees, grasses,
weeds, and flowering plants, Each plant has a pollinating period. These can
vary depending on the plant, climate and region. Pollens become airborne by
the wind during specific periods of the year associated with the reproductive
cycles of the plant, often triggering sever allergic reactions and asthma in
sensitive people. One of the most noted sever allergens in the United States is
ragweed pollens.
Source of Indoor Pollens
The main source of indoor pollens is the outdoors, but it may occasionally be
produced indoors when plants are cultivated indoors. Airborne pollens enter
the indoor environment through the eaves of roofing, cracks or seams in the
foundation of the building, open windows and by attaching to people and
pets. The pollens are then circulated throughout the building including homes
via the HVAC systems and ductwork, eventually settling on surfaces such as
drapery, upholstered furniture, attic insulation, carpeting, rugs, pillows,
bedding, and stuffed toys.
Airborne pollen inside the indoor environments may cause the following
symptoms and maladies:
People at most risk from the impact of pollens are:
Type of Pollens
While grass pollens are generally the most common cause of hay fever
(seasonal allergic rhinitis), other pollen types are also important. These include
tree pollens such as alder, hazel, birch, beech, cypress, pine, chestnut poplar,
and week pollens such as plantain, mugwort and ragweed.
It is known that grass pollen is a major outdoor cause of hay fever. However,
it is of virtual importance for grass pollen allergic patients with symptoms all
the year round to know the concentration of grass pollen allergens in their
homes.
Pollens Cause Allergy
Pollens are carriers of protein substances which when inhaled release these
proteins when they come in contact with a moist surface. These proteins are
often enzymes. The pollen proteins bind to IgE antibodies on mast cells lining
the airways and this results in the release of substances, e.g. histamine and
other mediators which cause swelling and constriction of the airways.
Pollens are an Important Cause of Asthma
Viral infections are the most common precipitants of acute asthma attacks in
allergic subjects. However, exposure to pollens in pollen sensitive individuals
increases the irritability of the airways. In asthmatic subjects it increases other
triggers of asthmas, e.g. cold air, exercise and emotional stimuli. In some
patients, direct exposure to pollens alone will trigger and asthma attack.
These patients typically present with seasonal asthma, particularly in Spring,
when a particular grass, weed or tree is flowering. The American Academy of
Allergy and Immunology reports that pollen allergies are common in 30% to
80% of people with asthma.
Pollen Forecasting
Pollen forecasting is a prediction of what the pollen levels will be in the future,
like a weather forecast. Pollen forecasting often has greater value for allergy
sufferers than a pollen count, because they can use this information to plans
their day, including whether or not to take medication. Typically, pollen
counts show what was in the air several days earlier, not what's going to
happen today or tomorrow. Pollen forecasting methods consider natural
events, besides the recent pollen counts, that will affect future pollen levels.
Pollen forecasts are geographically specific down to the city. Pollen counting
has been recognized as an important process since the turn of the 20th century.
Not only have pollen counts advanced our knowledge of the role plant pollen
plays in causing allergies, they have become a powerful tool in day-to-day,
individual health problem solving.
Sampling
Spore traps draw air into the sampler at a given rate. The pollen particles in
the air land on an adhesive coated microscope slide. After a period of
sampling, the sample is stained and total pollen grains are counted. The
concentrations in the air are calculated and are reported as pollen counts per
cubic meter. The most common air samplers are Zefon Air-O-Cell, Burkhard,
Micro 5, and Cyclex-D. The device is connected to a vacuum pump calibrated
at manufactures recommended flow rates as used for sampling air for fungi.
Recommendations
People are usually aware that outdoor air pollution can affect their health but
they may not know that indoor air pollution can also have significant effects.
EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants reported that indoor air
concentrations of many pollutants may be 2-5 times, and on some occasions
more than 100 times, higher than outdoor concentrations. These high levels of
indoor air pollutants are of particular concern because it is estimated that most
people spend more than 90% of their time indoors. Unlike outdoor air, indoor
air is recycled again and again. This causes it to trap and build up pollutants.
Common pollutants include dust, mold and spores, pollen, pet dander and
smoke. Millions of Americans suffer from sneezing, coughing, itching, runny
noses, and watering eyes due to airborne pollens.
Pollens
Pollens are microscopic grains produced by plants including trees, grasses,
weeds, and flowering plants, Each plant has a pollinating period. These can
vary depending on the plant, climate and region. Pollens become airborne by
the wind during specific periods of the year associated with the reproductive
cycles of the plant, often triggering sever allergic reactions and asthma in
sensitive people. One of the most noted sever allergens in the United States is
ragweed pollens.
Source of Indoor Pollens
The main source of indoor pollens is the outdoors, but it may occasionally be
produced indoors when plants are cultivated indoors. Airborne pollens enter
the indoor environment through the eaves of roofing, cracks or seams in the
foundation of the building, open windows and by attaching to people and
pets. The pollens are then circulated throughout the building including homes
via the HVAC systems and ductwork, eventually settling on surfaces such as
drapery, upholstered furniture, attic insulation, carpeting, rugs, pillows,
bedding, and stuffed toys.
Airborne pollen inside the indoor environments may cause the following
symptoms and maladies:
- Headaches, nasal stuffiness or drainage, irritations of the respiratory
system, tiredness, depression, sore throats, swelling or redness of the
eyes, and dry coughing. - The immune system losing its ability to fight off infections and diseases
once it has reached it threshold levels, becoming toxified by molds,
bacteria and chemicals. - Chronic suffering due to asthma related breathing difficulties, especially
in infants, children and the elderly. - Allergic rhinitis in sensitive individuals.
- Watering eyes.
People at most risk from the impact of pollens are:
- Children under 13 years old.
- Elderly people over 65 years old.
- People with weakened or debilitated immune systems.
Type of Pollens
While grass pollens are generally the most common cause of hay fever
(seasonal allergic rhinitis), other pollen types are also important. These include
tree pollens such as alder, hazel, birch, beech, cypress, pine, chestnut poplar,
and week pollens such as plantain, mugwort and ragweed.
It is known that grass pollen is a major outdoor cause of hay fever. However,
it is of virtual importance for grass pollen allergic patients with symptoms all
the year round to know the concentration of grass pollen allergens in their
homes.
Pollens Cause Allergy
Pollens are carriers of protein substances which when inhaled release these
proteins when they come in contact with a moist surface. These proteins are
often enzymes. The pollen proteins bind to IgE antibodies on mast cells lining
the airways and this results in the release of substances, e.g. histamine and
other mediators which cause swelling and constriction of the airways.
Pollens are an Important Cause of Asthma
Viral infections are the most common precipitants of acute asthma attacks in
allergic subjects. However, exposure to pollens in pollen sensitive individuals
increases the irritability of the airways. In asthmatic subjects it increases other
triggers of asthmas, e.g. cold air, exercise and emotional stimuli. In some
patients, direct exposure to pollens alone will trigger and asthma attack.
These patients typically present with seasonal asthma, particularly in Spring,
when a particular grass, weed or tree is flowering. The American Academy of
Allergy and Immunology reports that pollen allergies are common in 30% to
80% of people with asthma.
Pollen Forecasting
Pollen forecasting is a prediction of what the pollen levels will be in the future,
like a weather forecast. Pollen forecasting often has greater value for allergy
sufferers than a pollen count, because they can use this information to plans
their day, including whether or not to take medication. Typically, pollen
counts show what was in the air several days earlier, not what's going to
happen today or tomorrow. Pollen forecasting methods consider natural
events, besides the recent pollen counts, that will affect future pollen levels.
Pollen forecasts are geographically specific down to the city. Pollen counting
has been recognized as an important process since the turn of the 20th century.
Not only have pollen counts advanced our knowledge of the role plant pollen
plays in causing allergies, they have become a powerful tool in day-to-day,
individual health problem solving.
Sampling
Spore traps draw air into the sampler at a given rate. The pollen particles in
the air land on an adhesive coated microscope slide. After a period of
sampling, the sample is stained and total pollen grains are counted. The
concentrations in the air are calculated and are reported as pollen counts per
cubic meter. The most common air samplers are Zefon Air-O-Cell, Burkhard,
Micro 5, and Cyclex-D. The device is connected to a vacuum pump calibrated
at manufactures recommended flow rates as used for sampling air for fungi.
Recommendations
- Recommended flow rate is 15 lpm.
- The sampling time is dependent on the density of particulates in the
environment.
- Clean "office" or outdoors with no visible dust . 10 min.
Indoor environment, high activity & personnel . 5 min.
Dusty, dirty, visible particles in the air. 3 min.
Indoor environment, drywall renovation or heavy industrial 1 min.
- Obtain an outdoor sample to be used as a comparison to the indoor
samples. - Sending a blank cassette for analysis periodically is a good practice.
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| Qualtest, Inc. |