Summary
Grass is moderate to high in Pretoria and moderate in Bloemfontein and Cape Town. Significant peaks for the allergenic mould Cladosporium, were found throughout the week in Pretoria and for some days in Durban.
Cape Town
Grasses were moderate. Trees have decreased and included sumac (Anacardiaceae), hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), beech (Fagus), pine (Pinaceae) and oak (Quercus). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiacdae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and erica (Ericaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
Pollen was low in all categories. Trees included acacia (Acia-type), birch (Betula), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), guarri (Euclea), Cape Holly (Ilex), mulberry (Moraceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and karee (Searsia). weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), lily (liliaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and bulrush (Typhaceae). Moulds were low.
Pretoria
Grasses are moderate on average but high counts occurred during the week. Trees are decreasing and included acacia (Acacia-type), hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), guarri (Euclea), ash (Fraxinus), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morella), olive (Oleaceae), plane (Platanaceae), poplar (Populaceae), mesquite (Prosopis), oak (Quercus), buckthorn (Rhamnaceae), karee (Searsia). Weeds were sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), knotweed (Persicaria), plantain (Plantaginaceae), nightshade (Solanaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were high as significant counts were found for the allergenic spore, Cladosporium throughout the week.
Bloemfontein
The spore trap is being repaired. %-year means consistently showed that pollen would be low at this site. Trees might include Birch (Betula), bushwillow (Combretaceae), waxberry (Morella), hackberry (Celtis), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), olive (Oleaceae), plane (Platanaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and karee (Searsia). Weeds would include the daisy family (Asteraceae), erica (Ericaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and knotweed (Persicaria). Moulds would be low.
Kimberley
Tree, grass and weed pollen concentrations were low at this site. Trees included birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). moulds were low.
Durban
Pollen was low in all three categories. Trees included monkey puzzle (Araucariaceae), sweet gum (Liquidambar), sumac (Anacardiaceae), birch (Betula), olive (Oleaceae), mulberry (Moraceae) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were sedges (Cyperaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae) ferns (Polypodiceae) and knotweed (Persicaria). Moulds were moderate but strong peaks were seen for the allergenic mould Cladosporium.
Gqeberha
Pollen was uniformly low at this site. Trees were cedar (Cedrus), cypress (Cupressaceae), olive (Oleaceae), the pea family (Fabaceae), opine (Pinaceae) and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds were ice plants (Aizoaceae), pigweed (Amaranthaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), reeds (Restionaceae, bulrush (Typhaceae) and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae). Moulds were low.
George
Tree, grass and weed pollen was low at this site. Trees yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and weeds were protea (Proteaceae). Moulds were low.
Reference Range
Grass: Low: 0-5 Moderate: 6-20 High: 21-200
Trees: Low: 0-15 Moderate: 16-90 High: 91-1500
Weeds: Low: 0-10 Moderate: 10-50 High: 51-500
Moulds: Low: 0-900 Moderate: 900-2500 High 2500-25000
Unit: per cubic metre