Paper mulberry continues shedding its pollen
Pollen count this year has been significantly higher compared to the previous year: MeT Office
Dunya News Report (Humaira Sajid)
ISLAMABAD – While spring blossoms add to the natural beauty of the federal capital, the pollen in the air makes life difficult for allergy patients.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department Met Office, rains had earlier helped to keep the pollen counts low over the last few years but the clear and dry weather that follows it immediately increases the pollen in the air, as it has over the last three days. “The weather conditions foreseen during March will be relatively drier and sunny as compared to the February,” the MeT Office reported.
Pollen monitoring unit of Pakistan Meteorological Department monitors eight types of pollens namely, Paper Mulberry, Pine, Dandelion, Cannabis, Acacia, Alternaria, Eucalyptus and Grasses. The Paper Mulberry is the most abundant in concentration within Islamabad among all and its concentration touches the extreme limits of even greater than 40,000 per cubic meter of air at the peak of blossom season.
Out of the total pollen count of 21,745 PPM, the contribution of paper mulberry was 21,70, which shows that the pollen count this year has been significantly higher compared to the previous year.
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People suffering from Asthma and respiratory diseases experience serious consequences due to sharp increase in pollen concentrations, the MeT department said in a press release.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) has advised citizens of the capital to avoid wooded areas and where plantation is in abundance. According to the advisory issued by NIH, in the spring, pollen count in the air increases because of trees, dandelion, grass and flowers due to which people face respiratory problems, rash in eyes and red skin.
Although, early season trimming of all trees, causing pollen allergy, has been launched in the federal capital to control pollen to provide maximum respite to the pollen allergy patients.
According to official sources, a drive was launched jointly by National Institute of Health with the collaboration of Capital Development Authority. They said the government was taking pragmatic steps to cope with pollen allergy and fully equipped a laboratory at NIH besides deputing doctors and paramedic staff to deal with the pollen allergy patients.
Some 500 pollen allergy effectees’ daily visit the NIH laboratory for examination, they added. The sources said that NIH also participates in the awareness campaigns with Islamabad Capital Administration every year to create understanding about the disease among the patients.
The residents, especially those with pollen allergy, have been advised to avoid going to gardens and forests and jogging at tracks which are in the green areas. The patients are also advised by the specialists to remove the flowers and indoor plants from their rooms and houses.
“People should close the windows to ensure pollen would not enter their houses. After washing, do not spread clothes in the air for a long time because pollens can stick to them. After reaching home people should change their dress and shower to ensure that pollen is washed away,” said the NIH officials.
The spring season generally initiates during March in Islamabad every year. The pollen concentrations increases gradually with the onset of spring season and attains its peak concentration around mid March. However, this year the pollen was identified 14 days earlier than normal, according to allergy and asthma specialists.
The officials reported that 2005 was the worst year for allergy patients in Islamabad when the pollen count crossed the mark of 47,000 on March 26. In 2006 and 2008, the pollen count touched 45,000. Last year, a maximum pollen count of over 30,000 was recorded on March 23, he said.
The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) media coordinator, Dr Khawaja said pollen allergy symptoms includes sneezing, runny nose, watering of eyes, coughing, improper breathing, wheezing and eventually attacks of seasonal asthma. The skin can also become itchy sometimes, he said.
Dr Khawaja while passing an advice to the patients said that complete avoidance of allergenic pollen means moving to a place where the offending plant does not grow and where its pollen is not present in the air. But even this extreme solution may offer only temporary relief since a person who is sensitive to one specific weed, tree, or grass pollen may often develop allergies to others after repeated exposure.
“There are other ways to avoid pollen such as remaining indoors in the morning, when the outdoor pollen levels are highest. Sunny, windy days could be especially troublesome”.
For the past two weeks the weather conditions have remained dry throughout the country, however, MeT Office reported today that a prolonged rain spell is expected to begin during the next 24-hours. The spell, which to last until Monday, will cause widespread rains in the country. The Met Office has warned that there is a downside to so much wet weather where hay fever (an allergy caused by pollen or dust), is concerned. The downpours of the previous weeks helped the grass grow really well. If, however, the rain gives way to a dry spell, it means the grass will dry out too. And that may lead to higher-than-usual levels of pollen being released throughout the summer, told a MeT Official.
Though the isolated rain-thundershowers are expected in Islamabad and towards the Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Peshawar, Hazara divisions, significant rainfall activity will occur over the Malakand Karachi and Hyderabad divisions as well. Simply speaking, March will not be as hot as it was during the first few days.
