by Michelle Hozey

Created on: June 10, 2009   Last Updated: November 24, 2009

Allergen levels vary by location. Some areas have a higher concentration of common allergens such as mold and pollen, while others have less. There are a few web sites dedicated to identifying allergens in specific areas. Knowing what you are allergic to and where and when the allergens are prevalent can help avoid many allergy complications, as well as aid with diagnosis and treatment.

Allergen levels are calculated by specialists and the information is then posted in public forums, often on websites or in newspapers. The levels are recorded with a Burkhard Spore Trap or a Rotorod Sampler. The devices are used to collect pollen and spore samples. The tests are run over a 24-hour period to ensure an accurate sampling. A special stain is used to cover the rods of the devices, then the pollen and spores are counted and divided into three categories: trees, grasses and weeds.

Allergen levels vary not only by location but also by day, depending on a number of factors such as weather, so it's important to keep up to speed on the levels in your area on a certain day, especially if you have planned outdoor activities. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology's web site (www.aaaai.org) offers a regularly updated list of pollen and mold spore levels for certain areas. The data is provided by the National Allergy Bureau. To use this feature, simply click on the city closest to you in the drop-down menu or click on your state. For a more detailed report you must create a free account.

Weather.com also offers a list of common allergens by state. The very thorough list includes various plants, their natural habitat and range, peak season, detailed description and picture. The list also describes the allergic reaction, as well as the parts of the plant that cause allergies.

Many cities include allergen information on their web sites. For instance, Houston Texas, (www.Houstontx.gov) gives a daily breakdown of weed pollen, tree pollen, grass pollen and mold spores within the city. The information is provided by the National Allergy Bureau. Houston also has a telephone number to call to hear a recorded message of the day's allergen count.

Many newspapers include the allergen levels in the weather section and sometimes the local weather anchor reads the pollen count on the news.

Allergynursing.com offers a list of online allergen count resources for those living outside the United States. Areas include Scandinavia, Austria, Denmark, United Kingdom and several others.

For additional resources, view the following web sites.

http://www.bfhd.wa.gov/lab/how.php

http://www.weather.com/activities/health/allergies/c ommon/index.html?from=breadcrumbs

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