Weekly Report

29 November 2019

City
Overall Risk
Tree Pollen
Grass Pollen
Weed Pollen
Mould Spores

Kimberley

The overall pollen and mould levels were low, but an interesting small spike was seen for Pleospora, the wet air spore, when a score of 70 grains/cu M air appeared on 20 November indicating that rain had fallen. Trees identified were pine. The weed, goosefoot was detected.

Gqeberha

All pollen and mould loads were low at this sampling site. Grasses increased to moderate levels on sunny days but disappeared following rain. Tree pollen identified included palm and gum. In the category weeds: Daisy and euphorbia pollen types were detected. Moulds were low with small spikes for basidiospores (mushrooms spores).

Cape Town

It is hoped that the technical problems at this site will soon be resolved. Based on archived data from 2009-2008 and current weather patterns, tree, grass and weed daily counts are likely to be low and so are mould counts. Trees flowering in the third week of November in previous years included eucalypts, olive, pine and yellowwood. Weeds included ericas and English Plantain.

Bloemfontein

All pollen loads in the categories: Trees grasses and weeds were low. Tree pollen included: Eucalypts, rhus/searsia, white stinkwood, cypress and pine. Weed pollen detected was goosefoot. Low mould levels were detected.

Pretoria

Grass counts were low at this site. Tree pollen was low and included birch, bush willow, ash, cypress, eucalypts, pine, plane and jacaranda. In the category weeds and shrubs, only fern spore pollen was detected. Mould loads were low.

Johannesburg

Grass, tree, weed and fungal spore loads were all low at this site. Tree pollen detected included: Birch, cypress, ash, eucalypts, mulberry, pine and plane.

Durban

The mould count decreased compared to the previous weeks but remained high during this sampling period of further rain and strong wind. The pollen count was low, with very low grass levels. In the category tree pollen:  Birch, eucalyptus and pine was detected and of the weeds: nettle pollen was seen.