Cape Town
Tree pollen reached record highs at this site as high counts of oak, cypress and plane tree were detected on hot, still days. Grass, weed and mould levels were low.
Johannesburg
Tree pollen levels are high at this site, but decreasing from earlier high levels and weed, grass and mould levels were low.
Pretoria
High tree pollen concentrations were detected including mulberry, plane and birch. Grass, weed and mould levels were low.
Durban
Fungal spore levels increased after rain and high levels were detected for Cladosporium, an allergenic mould and for ascospores. Tree and weed pollen levels were low. Grass pollen levels were low, but are increasing.
Kimberley
Mould and pollen levels were all low at this sampling site, but grass levels are increasing.
Gqeberha
Pollen levels were low, but grass and spring flowering tree pollen (Morus,(mulberry) pine, cypress) were detected. Mould counts fluctuated and increased to moderate levels on days following rain.
Bloemfontein
High levels were detected for grass pollen which increased suddenly to an average count >50 grains/cu M. Tree pollen was similarly high-highest counts were for Celtis, or white stinkwood, an indigenous tree.
Overall findings
Tree pollen was high in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Bloemfontein. The highest tree counts in 10 years were recorded at the Cape Town site.
The grass pollen season has started in Bloemfontein and grass pollen is increasing in Durban, Gqeberha and Kimberley.
Mould was high on days following rain in Durban and Gqeberha. (Cladosporium and ascospores)
