Now that April showers have brought May flowers it has also brought along a wide variety of grass pollens. Various tree pollen types are still out in force but are slowing down after some areas of the country reached record or near record level pollen counts earlier in the year. Areas of the Northeast may get hit with high grass pollen counts thanks to plentiful rain and warm temperatures. The Southeast may see lower amounts of grass pollen thanks to an earlier period of dry weather. Unfortunately weed pollen may get an early start along the Southeast coastal states due to favorable weather conditions.
Here are the typical pollens that can be found across the United States this May:
Northeast
Tree pollen: American Elm, Ash, Black Walnut, Cottonwood, Maple, Mulberry, Oak, Pecan, Sycamore
Grass pollen: Bermuda, Kentucky Bluegrass, Meadow Fescue, Ryegrass
Weeds: Dock, Plantain, Sorrel
Southeast
Tree pollen: Ash, Black Walnut, Cottonwood, Elm, Maple, Mulberry, Oak, Pecan, Sycamore
Grass pollen: Bermuda, Kentucky Bluegrass, Meadow Fescue, Ryegrass
Weeds: Dock, Plantain, Sorrel
Midwest
Tree pollen: Ash, Birch, Black Walnut, Cedar, Cottonwood, Elm, Juniper, Maple, Mulberry, Oak, Pecan, Sycamore
Grass pollen: Bermuda, Kentucky Bluegrass, Meadow Fescue, Ryegrass
Weeds: Dock, Plantain, Sorrel
South Central
Tree pollen: Ash, Birch, Black Walnut, Cedar, Cottonwood, Elm, Juniper, Maple, Mulberry, Oak, Pecan, Sycamore
Grass pollen: Bermuda, Kentucky Bluegrass, Meadow Fescue, Ryegrass
Weeds: Dock, Plantain, Sorrel
Southwest
Tree pollen: Ash, Black Walnut, Cottonwood, Elm, Mesquite, Oak, Pecan, Sycamore
Grass pollen: Bermuda, Meadow Fescue, Ryegrass
Weeds: Dock, Plantain, Sorrel
Northwest
Tree pollen: Ash, Black Walnut, Cottonwood, Maple, Oak, Pine, Sycamore
Grass pollen: Kentucky Bluegrass, Meadow Fescue, Ryegrass
Weeds: Dock, Plantain, Sorrel
Rain is pretty much the only way to get rid of pollen outside, but it's a different story inside. Choosing a high-quality air purifier is a great way to remove allergens like pollen from your living space. Simply choose an Intellipure air filtration solution like the portable Compact air purifier or the SuperV whole home air purifier. Intellipure’s DFS technology uses electronically enhanced filtration to attract and capture ultrafine particles (99.97% filtration down to 0.3 microns).
Warm Weather Means Rising Ozone Levels
Our relationship with ozone is complicated. Ozone itself is a pretty simple molecule made up of just three oxygen atoms. Life on Earth is protected from the Sun’s ultraviolet rays by a layer of ozone in the stratosphere. Up there ozone is helpful and is good for our health. But ozone that forms at ground level is a pollutant. When air pollution is exposed to heat and sunlight it reacts to create ground level ozone. Ozone can cause respiratory issues, trigger asthma attacks, even cause cardiovascular issues. Before heading outside this May check your local outdoor air quality. Vulnerable groups like children, older adults, or anyone with pre-existing conditions should limit their outdoor activities when ozone levels are high.
It’s National Clean Air Month!
May is National Clean Air Month which emphasizes the important connection between air quality and public health. What started as a week-long event in 1972 by the American Lung Association, has turned into a month-long observance that raises awareness about the negative effects of air pollution. Air Quality Awareness Week during the first week of May provides critical education on the health impacts of climate change and wildfires. Throughout the month, communities and organizations engage in activities that promote cleaner air, including educational campaigns and initiatives aimed at reducing emissions. National Clean Air Month serves to highlight the importance of protecting the air we breathe for our well-being and the health of future generations.
Intellipure air purifiers are designed to conquer airborne allergies during spring and the entire rest of the year. Our solutions are engineered in the USA and trusted in nearly every industry. To find out more about the Intellipure air purifier lineup and follow us on Instagram at @Intellipure.
