24 February 2023
Summary Loadshedding at all the sampling sites will have reduced these counts. Pollen was low in most sampling areas except for Potchefstroom, where weeds increased the mean count and Durban, where a significant tree count with a spike for mulberry occurred. When white mulberry trees pollinate large quantities of mulberry pollen are shot into the […]
17 February 2023
Summary Torrential rain occurred at many of these sites. In cities where rain was prolonged (Johannesburg) pollen and mould was washed from the air so low counts were seen. In warmer areas (Durban and Kimberley), despite heavy rain, moulds increased sharply. Average grass counts were low but some moderate grass count days were seen in […]
9 February 2023
Summary The hot, dry weather conditions at most of the South African sampling sites resulted in very low pollen and mould or fungal spores in the atmosphere. The exceptions were cities where there was higher humidity, or some rain such as Durban, Kimberley and Pretoria. Cape Town Pollen and mould loads were light during this […]
3 February 2023
Summary Low pollen loads were found from all the sites in the South African Pollen Monitoring network (SAPNET) this week. Ragweed (Ambrosia spp.) was detected from the air of Durban, Pretoria and Kimberley in low numbers, indicating that the sources were distant, as ragweed pollen is small and light and can travel long distances. Moulds/fungal […]
27 January 2023
Summary Many sites experienced high temperatures with no rain during this sampling period and pollen in the ambient air decreased. For the first time during this study, the adhesive on the strip melted at one site. A small peak is noted for the weed Cyperus (sedge) in Johannesburg and small numbers of maize (Zea mays) […]
20 January 2023
Pollen trigger alerts during this sampling period: Grass pollen is increasing in some of the summer rainfall areas and was moderate in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Kimberley. Tree pollen was moderate in Bloemfontein. Weed pollen was moderate in Johannesburg and Bloemfontein. Significant trees were olive (Oleaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae) and significant weeds were plantain species […]
13 January 2023
Summary High grass counts were recorded in Johannesburg, with moderate levels of trees and weeds at this site. Similarly, trees and weeds were moderate in Cape Town. Low pollen counts were recorded in Bloemfontein and Gqeberha, with no new data available in Calvinia, Pretoria, Kimberley and Potchefstroom. The fungal spore count in Durban was significant. […]
6 January 2023
Summary Bloemfontein had significantly high pollen levels due to an increase in tree pollen, as well as moderate levels of weed and grass pollen. The overall pollen count in Cape Town was also high, with moderate tree and weed pollen levels detected. Moderate levels of grass and tree pollen were seen in Johannesburg. Public holiday […]