Forecast

The mass dusting of grasses is over!

In the valleys and basins of Carinthia, the allergologically significant mass dusting of grasses is over for this year's growing season. Grass pollen allergy sufferers may only experience increased exposure to grass pollen locally. For example, there may still be a slight increase in grass pollen in the vicinity of grass meadows, forest slopes, forest roads and alpine meadows. Urban areas are only affected to a very limited extent by this locally increased grass pollen count.

However, people who are sensitive to grass pollen should watch out for corn fields in bloom. The pollen of the maize plant is one of the largest pollen in the plant kingdom and can only be transported short distances by the wind - therefore a higher maize p ollen count only occurs in the immediate vicinity of maize crops.

In the area of grass meadows, an increased allergic load can occur due to the dusting of ribwort plantain and in weed fields due to the dusting of broad plantain and goosefoot species.

The first mugwort pollen flight is not expected until the end of July.

Dr Helmut Zwander