Face mask, a potent protection against coronavirus infection, is also an effective tool of protection from pollen allergy, health experts said on Monday.
With the approach of springtime, most residents in this capital city look forward to trading in snow and icy weather for milder temperatures and blossoming flowers and trees.
But as the days grow longer, the budding trees and blooming flowers are also bearers of an unwelcome reality: the start of the allergy season.
As climate change shortens springtime in Islamabad and makes it much less rainy, pollen allergy problems are skyrocketing.
The concentration of pollen in the air has begun to go up with the onset of the spring season and the locals of the federal capital have to deal with pollen allergy along with the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Dr Sharif Astori, people allergic to pollen should avoid insect repellent sprays, smoking cigarettes, smelling paints, perfumes, walking in the garden, using carpets on the floor. They have asked pollen allergy patients to close the windows of the vehicles while travelling.
According to Pakistan Meteorological Department, the concentration of pollen in the air has been recorded at 11,877 microgrammes per cubic metre on Monday which is considered high.
When the concentration is recorded between 1-14, it is considered a low count while between 15-89 is considered moderate. However, the amount of pollen between 90-1,499 or higher is deemed alarming.
The highest concentration of pollen in the federal capital since the record-keeping started was calculated at 48,080 m3 in March 2005.
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PMD says that pollen devices have been installed in four sectors of Islamabad to monitor the concentration of pollen in the air. The sectors include H-8, E-8, F-10, and G6.
As per PMD, eight plants are responsible for the high pollen count in Islamabad. These plants include paper mulberry, acacia, eucalyptus, pine, grease, cannabis, dandelion, and alternaria.
About 97% of the pollen present in Islamabad is produced from paper mulberry and the level in Islamabad reaches up to 40,000 per cubic metre during the season.
Health experts said that sneezing, sore throat, nose and eyes, runny eyes, difficulty breathing are the symptoms of pollen allergy.
Pollen allergy patients should visit the doctors if any of the symptoms appear. They added that during the pollen season, the allergic patients should stay indoors and should not leave the house unless otherwise necessary. Allergic people should wear masks while leaving the house and riding motorbikes and bicycles while unnecessary outings especially during sunrise and sunsets should be avoided.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2021.
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