For many in Florida, Spring brings beautiful flowers, warmer temperatures and lots of sneezing.
Edward Waters University in Jacksonville helps the public stay ahead of allergy season by being part of a national network of pollen monitoring stations that track airborne pollen levels and provide valuable data for both residents and healthcare professionals.
Professor Brian Seymour, who leads the project, explained that the station is located on the roof of the Morris-Cohen dormitory at the university on the city’s west side. From there, the station can collect accurate pollen data for the surrounding area, offering real-time information.
“It’s an early warning system,” Seymour said. “To tell individuals who suffer from allergies- particularly with asthma, so they know to have their inhaler. We broadcast our results to the TV station and they present our daily pollen counts to the community.”
He emphasized that this information is crucial for people who suffer from severe allergies.
The station, one of only two in Florida, collects and analyzes air samples to measure daily pollen counts.
“It’s a suction device that pulls in air at 10 liters per minute, that amount of air is equivalent to an average human sucking in air,” Seymour explained. “We examine the pollen that collects on a rotating tape system, which runs continuously for seven days, allowing us to get an in-depth look at how pollen levels change over time.”
He further explained that these samples provide a clear picture of the pollen landscape. “We’re able to identify the types of pollen in the air and how much of each type is present at different times of the year,” he said.
Northeast Florida has two major allergy seasons: one in the spring and another in the fall. Seymour has been studying pollen trends for five years through the station and the goal is to develop a pollen calendar to predict peak allergy times. This calendar will help residents and doctors plan ahead, reducing the severity of allergy symptoms through better preparation.
“In January, we start seeing cedar pollen. By February, pine pollen takes over. Right now, in March, we’re at the peak of allergy season,” Seymour shared. “Last week, pollen levels were extremely high.”
While pine pollen is easy to spot due to its yellow dust coating surfaces, smaller pollen grains like oak and ragweed are more likely to cause severe allergies because they can travel deeper into the lungs.
“Pine pollen particles are large — you’ll sneeze or cough it out,” Seymour explained. But oak pollen has tinier particles, and that’s what triggers stronger allergic reactions. He added, “A lot of people think, ‘Oh, it’s the pine pollen making me sick,’ but really, it’s the oak and the other small grains that are getting deep into their respiratory system.”
According to Seymour, pollen levels can vary depending on the time of day. He explained that in the morning, there’s a lot of pine pollen. By midday, oak pollen becomes dominant, and in the evening, cedar levels are higher.
He suggested outdoor activities may be best in the early morning before the highly allergenic oak gets more active.
Weather also affects pollen counts in ways that many don’t expect. Rain may seem like it helps by washing pollen out of the air, and while it might temporarily, it can actually make allergies worse. Raindrops cause pollen grains to burst, releasing even more allergenic particles into the air, according to Seymour.
That’s why some people may feel worse after it rains. He noted that many people think they’ve gotten a cold from the rain, but it’s really just an allergic response to the pollen bomb that detonated after the storm.
Seymour also noted that climate change is making pollen seasons more intense.
“Last year, 2024, was a much hotter year on record, and pollen levels were the highest I’ve ever measured — about twice as much as in previous years,” he said.
The data from the Edward Waters pollen station is sent to the National Allergy Bureau and the goal is to ultimately help allergists develop ‘personalized medicine’ for patients.
This information will assist healthcare providers in tailoring treatments to specific pollen sensitivities, improving the quality of life for many allergy sufferers.
“A doctor can test a patient’s blood to see exactly what they’re allergic to — whether it’s pine, oak, or even grass — and then create a treatment plan just for them,” Seymour said. “That’s called personalized medicine, and it’s becoming more common as we understand allergies better.”
Seymour advised residents to check pollen forecasts daily and with this information, they can adjust their activities or plans accordingly. On higher-pollen days, when possible, it’s best to stay indoors, limit time outside or at least ensure those with asthma are taking their inhaler along.
Ultimately, Seymour and the university team are working to make allergy season a little less daunting for Northeast Florida. By tracking pollen levels and understanding the effects of climate and weather, they’re helping residents manage their symptoms and leading the way toward more personalized allergy treatments. So next time you reach for a tissue, remember that local science is working hard to keep you breathing easy.
