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3 Types of Pollen in the Air
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The word “pollen” gets thrown around as an all-encompassing buzzword throughout the spring, summer and fall, but this common allergen is more nuanced than you may think. Below, we explore the different types of pollen that might be lingering in your air, the regional differences associated with each kind, and how your Filtrete™ Filter can help capture the allergen.
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Tree pollen
Tree pollen counts start spiking as early as January in southern states, and can keep producing well into June. Additionally, not all types of trees produce pollen at the same rate.¹
For example, cedar and willow trees pollinate heavily across all regions, while oak and birch are some common offenders in the Northeast and Midwest.² Keep in mind that tree pollen is extremely fine compared to other types of pollen and can travel for miles in the wind.
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Grass pollen
Following tree pollen season, grasses begin to pollinate in late spring and early summer. However, residents of southern states should note that grasses in these regions may experience lengthier pollination seasons.
Some grasses can become particularly troublesome once they start pollinating, including Bermuda, Johnson, Kentucky, orchard, rye, sweet vernal and Timothy.³ Grasses such as Timothy, Johnson and rye can be found in any region, while Bermuda favors all but the Northwest.⁴
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Weed pollen
Peaking around mid-September throughout most of the United States, weed pollen typically wreaks havoc when the weather is windy, dry and hot. Ragweed, one of the most common types of weed pollen, grows in abundance in the Midwest and along the East Coast, although the weed can be found throughout the country.⁵
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Good news: Your Filtrete™ Filter is engineered to capture pollen in the air
When pollen counts start to skyrocket, your Filtrete™ Filter is your home’s first line of defense. Our filters that have an MPR rating of 600 or higher are designed with an electrostatic charge to pull in and trap the pesky allergen. When pollen counts start to rise in your city, consider switching to a filter from our Allergen Defense line (starting at MPR 1000), or Healthy Living and Smart lines (MPR 1500 and above). In addition to trapping multiple types of pollen, these filters also help tackle dust, lint, pet dander and more. Remember: the higher the MPR, the more microparticles the filter will capture.
Don’t have an HVAC system? Check out Filtrete™ Air Purifiers for cleaner, fresher air. We have a number of filter options designed to capture allergens and pollen in the air.
Sources:
1. https://community.aafa.org/blog/tree-pollen-spring-s-first-allergy-offender
2. https://www.zyrtec.com/allergy-guide/outdoor-allergies/American-tree-pollen-allergy-guide
3. https://community.aafa.org/blog/what-if-you-re-allergic-to-grass-10-steps-to-managing-grass-pollen-allergy
4. https://www.zyrtec.com/allergy-guide/outdoor-allergies/grass-pollen-allergy-guide
5. https://www.aafa.org/ragweed-pollen/
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