Happy New Year! And especially “Happy No Pollen” for almost the entire United States! January is a rare month where there is no noticeably measurable pollen in the air from east to west coast (sorry Hawaii). Since the air is clear now is a good time to review the common pollen sources that will be here sooner than you think. Let’s learn a little about each one:
Tree pollen sources:
- American Elm: A hardy tree capable of living for centuries and can reach heights of over 100 feet. Its pollen is fairly large, typically 20 microns.
- Ash: Part of the olive/lilac family. This tree can grow up to 80 feet tall and is known for its strong, flexible wood. Pollen size ranges from 18-28 microns.
- Birch: A small to medium size thin tree with unique white bark. Often used in furniture making. Pollen size ranges from 18-30 microns
- Black Walnut: A big tree (up to 130 feet tall) known for its nuts and exceptional hardwood lumber. Pollen size is roughly 38 microns.
- Cedar: An evergreen tree with a pleasant smelling wood popular for construction and furniture making. Pollen size ranges from 20-30 microns
- Cottonwood: This fast-growing tree is often found near water. It has big, fluffy seeds hence its name. Pollen size ranges from 25-35 microns
- Elm: This tall deciduous tree has a wide canopy. Unfortunately large numbers were wiped out by Dutch elm disease over the last 100 years. Pollen size is roughly 20 microns.
- Juniper: Can be either a shrub or tree with berry-like cones. Often used for landscaping and to make essential oils. Pollen size ranges from 20-30 microns.
- Maple: A very versatile hardwood tree. The wood is popular for making musical instruments along with other woodworking uses. Also the source of maple syrup. Pollen size ranges from 23-31 microns.
- Mesquite: A small, thorny hardwood tree or shrub found in dry areas. It has edible fruit “pods” and the wood is popular for use in cooking smokers. Pollen size is roughly 30 microns.
- Mulberry: A fast growing hardwood tree with edible berries. They are both found in the wild and farmed. Pollen size ranges from 15-25 microns.
- Oak: Very large, long-lived hardwood tree that produces acorns. Known for its strong wood it is often used in construction and furniture making. Pollen size ranges from 24-38 microns.
- Pecan: A large hardwood tree valued for its edible nuts. Often commercially grown for food. The wood is popular for making wood flooring and furniture. Pollen size is roughly 50 microns.
- Sycamore: A massive tree with distinct mottled peeling bark, often found near water. They can grow well over 100 feet tall and have a trunk 6 feet in diameter. Pollen size ranges from 16-22 microns.
Grass pollen sources:
- Bahia: A low, creeping grass easily spotted by its V-shaped stalks. Useful for erosion control. Pollen size is roughly 50 microns.
- Bermuda: Fast growing, tough grass found around the world. Pollen size ranges from 30-50 microns.
- Brome: Tall grass commonly used for animal feed. Grows well in cool areas. Pollen size ranges widely from 20-120 microns.
- Johnsongrass: Considered both a grass and an invasive weed. Spreads quickly in tilled fields. Pollen size ranges from 26-50 microns.
- Kentucky Bluegrass: One of the most popular lawn grasses in the United States, but is likely not actually native to Kentucky. Pollen size ranges widely from 20-120 microns.
- Meadow Fescue: Tough, tall grass that can grow just about anywhere. Can be used for animal feed or just ornamental. Pollen size ranges widely from 30-40 microns.
- Orchard: Tall grass that grows in clumps. Also called cat grass. Popular for farming. Pollen size ranges from 26-30 microns.
- Ryegrass: Fast growing grass popular for lawns, pastures and erosion control. Does well in mild climates. Pollen size ranges from 25-30 microns.
- Timothy: Very tall grass often used as animal food. Resistant to cold and drought. Pollen size ranges from 30-35 microns.
Weed pollen sources:
- Cocklebur: An aptly named prickly weed with burrs that stick to clothing and fur. It can grow up to 4 feet tall. Pollen size ranges from 26-28 microns.
- Dock: A tall common weed found almost everywhere with broad leaves and a long main root. Pollen size ranges from 15-35 microns.
- Dogfennel: A tall fast growing, weedy plant with a strong smell and yellow flowers. Pollen size ranges from 20-30 microns.
- Fireweed: A tall, skinny plant with bright pink flowers. It often appears after wildfires, hence the name. Pollen size is roughly 75 microns.
- Kochia: A bushy type of tumbleweed that dries up and rolls away to disperse its seeds. Pollen size ranges from 26-50 microns.
- Lamb's Quarters: A fast growing weed with diamond-shaped leaves. It is edible and popular for cooking. Pollen size ranges from 23-34 microns.
- Marsh Elder: A tall, shrubby plant that thrives in wet areas. Was once grown by Native Americans for food. Pollen size ranges from 18-30 microns.
- Nettle: A tall plant with jagged leaves that can cause a sharp sting. Often found in damp, shady areas. Pollen size ranges from 10-25 microns.
- Pigweed: A tall, fast-growing weed with broad oval shaped leaves. It has small, green flowers clustered together. Pollen size ranges from 18-30 microns.
- Plantain: A very short weed with wide leaves that grow from the center outward. Stalks grow from the middle of the plant. Pollen size is roughly 30 microns.
- Ragweed: One of the most notoriously allergenic weeds. It has ragged edge leaves and is very difficult to control. Pollen size ranges from 15-25 microns.
- Russian Thistle: A large, classic bushy tumbleweed often found in open, dry areas like deserts. Pollen size ranges from 27-30 microns.
- Sagebrush: A woody shrub commonly found in dry areas of the western United States. It has a pleasant, distinct smell. Pollen size ranges from 15-28 microns.
- Scale: A tall, hearty shrub with narrow leaves. Also called wingscale or fourwing saltbush. Pollen size ranges from 25-30 microns.
- Sorrel: A short weed with arrowhead-shaped leaves. Leaves are edible when young. Pollen size ranges from 22-34 microns.
While not a complete or detailed list of all the pollens that will be tickling your nose this year, now you know a little about each one. Of course the cold and flu season is still going strong, so you aren’t totally free from sneezing and tissues. To keep those pollens, pathogens, dust and other nasty airborne things at bay this year you need an Intellipure portable air purifier. Intellipure's DFS technology uses electronically enhanced filtration to attract and capture ultrafine particles (99.97% filtration down to 0.3 microns). Simply choose an Intellipure portable air purifier for healthy home indoor air quality this new year.
Too Cold For Mold?
Many people think mold dies in winter, but that isn't quite true. In reality mold actually goes dormant until warmer weather arrives. Just being cold doesn’t make mold go away either, as mold spores have no problem causing an allergy attack in the winter. Mold can even grow indoors during winter! Our homes are warm and condensation can make for plentiful moisture in the wrong places. Add to it unpredictable winter weather like snow, sleet and rain that can create even more moisture (and make mold happier). Some types of mold like the cold and can grow on wet stuff like carpets or insulation. So remember mold spores are always around just waiting for an opportunity to grow. That’s why it's important to keep things dry and well ventilated inside to prevent mold from taking over.
Healthy New Year!
Every year countless people make promises to themselves to get healthy in the coming year. They are going to exercise more, eat better, maybe even give social media a rest. But what if you could make a change in your home that would benefit your health 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with almost no effort? It may sound impossible but all you need to do is add an Intellipure air purifier to your home. Studies have shown that poor indoor air quality is linked to a variety of health issues. Intellipure’s portable Compact and Ultrafine 468 air purifiers use our proprietary DFS (Disinfecting Filtration System) technology, electronically enhanced filters to pull the tiniest particles out of the air. So start the new year off right with a breath of fresh indoor air!
Intellipure air purifiers are well positioned to help you conquer allergies year round. Our solutions are engineered in the USA and trusted in nearly every industry. To find out more about the latest in clean air take a look at the Intellipure lineup and follow us on Instagram at @Intellipure.
