Grass Pollen in abundance
If you're suffering itchy eyes, runny noses and sneezing a lot, you're in good company, as pollen directly affects about
20% of the population through allergy (hayfever) and/or asthma.
The pollen season is in full swing at the moment and is especially bad at this time of the year as pollen from grasses
is released.
The windy conditions the country has experienced recently has helped to spread the pollen wide and far. Pollen is very
mobile in the air and travels long distances when carried along in the wind. Grass sensitive people will be well aware
of the invisible dust-like pollen as their itchy watering eyes and streaming noses react to the proteins leaked by the
tiny grains.
The grass season generally rises to peak about Christmas and then usually declines rapidly in the early New Year as the
grasses go to seed.
Overseas, efforts are well advanced to genetically modify grass pollen to remove the genes which specify the
allergy-causing proteins.
Dr David Fountain, a research scientist in the field of airborne pollens based in Massey University, and MetService work
together to provide pollen forecasts for New Zealand. By using daily weather forecasts issued by MetService in
combination with Dr Fountain's knowledge of airborne pollens, a daily pollen forecast is created.
You can check the latest pollen forecast for your region by going to MetService's website http://www.metservice.co.nz The pollen forecasts are updated each day and are available for most centres around New Zealand.