ANCHORAGE, Alaska — All that greening up is causing this year’s allergy season to intensely build, according to an expert at The Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Center of Alaska.
Dr. Jeffrey Demain, the center’s director, said while the season got off to a slow start after record breaking snow, climate changes mean now many more patients are being seen in area doctor’s offices.
“These pollen grains strike the nose, eyes, respiratory track and produce a very severe allergic response,” Demain says.
The latest Anchorage Department of Health and Human Services numbers indicated the main culprit appeared to be birch tree pollen.
The most recent tree pollen count was ranked “high,” at 620 grains per cubic meter.
"If you consider a cubic meter of air, and literally floating in that air would be about 620 grains," says Anchorage Air Quality Specialist Anne Schlapia.
The Matanuska-Susitna Borough issued an Air Quality Advisory for the Palmer area several days ago on May 18.The borough spokesperson said on Monday, with the lack of wind, that was no longer the case.
