Summary
Grass is peaking in Kimberley and significant grass concentrations are also seen in Johannesburg, Vanderbijlpark, Pretoria and Bloemfontein. A late tree peak was seen in contributions from a variety of tree species at the Vanderbijlpark site, south of Johannesburg.
Cape Town
Tree, grass and weed pollen is low at this site in late summer/autumn. Trees typically include elm (Ulmaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), the monkey puzzle tree (Araucariaceae) and waxberry (Morella). Weeds are erica (Ericaceae), nettles (Urticaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds are low. 5-year means are shown.
Johannesburg Central
Grasses were moderate with high concentrations on some days, while trees and weeds were low. Trees included cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), persimmon (Ebenaceae), gum (Myrtaceae) and olive (Oleaceae. Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), lily (Liliaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg South
Grasses were moderate, high tree concentrations included acacia (Acacia-type), maple (Acer), sumac (Anacardiaceae), monkey puzzle (Araucariaceae) hornbeam (Carpinus). Australian pine (Pinaceae), pecan (Carya), cypress (Cupressaceae), flamboyant tree (Delonix), pea family (Fabaceae), jacaranda, walnut (Juglandaceae), larch (Larix), Cape Holly (Ilex) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperacae), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae), figworts (Scrophulariaceae), and the carrot family (Apiaceae). Moulds were low.
Pretoria
Grasses are moderate at this site and trees typically include mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia) and Australian pine (Casuarina). Weeds would be ragweed (Ambrosia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and nettle (Urticaceae). Moulds are moderate. 5-year means are shown.
Bloemfontein
Grasses are moderate at this site. Trees are typically false olive (Buddleia), olive (Oleaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds are spurges (Crassulaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds are low. 5-year means are shown.
Kimberley
Grasses were moderate. Low tree concentrations included elm (Ulmaceae), and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were moderate with significant concentrations found for the allergenic mould Alternaria.
Durban
Low concentrations in all three categories was detected in the air after heavy rain. Trees were cypress (Cupressaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia), walnut (Juglandaceae) and birch (Betulus). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), ragweed (Ambrosia), ferns (Polypodiaceae), nettles (Urticaceae) protea (Proteaceae) and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae). Moulds were moderate with strong spikes for ascospores and basidiospores (includes mushrooms).
Gqeberha
No findings were received for this site.
George
Tree, grass and weed pollen was detected in low quantities. Trees included elm (Ulmaceae), birch (Betulus) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), ragweed (Ambrosia) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds were low. These findings are repeated from the same period in 2024.
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
