Allergy Season May Be Worse Than Usual

By Kevin Lamb Staff Writer

Ragweed pollen has arrived early and spiked quickly this year, leaving a trail of runny noses and itchy eyes likely to grow more uncomfortable until the allergy season peaks around Labor Day.

Making matters worse, grass pollens persisted throughout the summer.

“That’s unusual not to have a respite in July, a little vacation from allergies,” said Dr. Susan Barde of Dayton Arthritis and Allergy Center in Kettering and Springboro. Without that respite, people went into ragweed season with a higher sensitivity to allergens.

Even in ordinary years, ragweed is the worst allergen both nationally and locally. It not only bothers most people who have any nasal allergies, but also generates “enormous volumes of pollen” in the Miami Valley and other areas, said Brian Huxtable of the Regional Air Pollution Control Agency, covering Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery and Preble counties.

This year, ragweed pollen reached RAPCA’s season-opening threshold of 20 on July 30, or 13 days earlier than the 2001-06 average. The level has been high every day since Aug. 8, even after Monday’s big rain storm.

Hot, sunny, windy and rainless days tend to be the worst for ragweed pollen. But even rain can be a mixed blessing, said Dr. Robert Fink, who directs pulmonary medicine at Children’s Medical Center.

Rain washes pollen out of the air. Too much can keep ragweed levels high well into fall.

Allergies and asthma go together like heat and humidity, so Barde said ragweed season increases the importance of controlling asthma.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2129 or klamb@DaytonDailyNews .com.

To reduce allergy symptoms

Stay inside if possible when pollen is at its daily peaks. That’s typically until 4 p.m. High humidity, wind and ozone levels can make things worse.

Closed windows help shut out pollen at home and in the car. Use the air conditioning.

Use your clothes dryer, too. Pollen and mold cling to line- drying clothes outdoors.

Shower after spending time outside. Pollen can collect on your hair and skin.

Keep your home clean. Dust frequently with something that doesn’t scatter dust mites. High-Efficiency Particle-Arresting filters on the furnace and vacuum cleaner can reduce air levels of pollen, pet dander and dust but not dust mites.

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