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Ragweed levels are high in the D.C. area.
WASHINGTON — If your days and afternoons are filled with sniffles and sneezes, pollen might be the culprit. Ragweed season is ramping up in the D.C. area, and current pollen readings are high. Allergy experts like Susan Kosisky at the U.S. Army Centralized Allergen Extract Labratory are spotting the trend.
“Ragweed and nettle are the predominant allergenic weed offenders currently. Predominant area ragweed species produce a ton of pollen over the course of a season, wreaking havoc for allergy sufferers,” Kosisky said.
Ragweed season typically runs from the end of summer through early fall. Kosisky said ragweed pollen counts really started to climb in the third week of August, with more on the way. The first week of September is typically when ragweed peaks in the D.C. area.
“Plants will release pollen throughout September and sporadically through October. Being the area’s major weed culprit, ragweed pollen accounts for some 58% of our total annual weed pollen yield,” Kosisky said.
Which time of day is ragweed the worst?
There’s almost no planning around ragweed in the D.C. area.
“In Washington, D.C., airborne concentrations of ragweed pollen can remain high throughout the day with peak levels occurring midday into the afternoon hours. Sufficient levels are also recorded overnight into the early morning hours,” Kosisky said.
More ragweed gets in the air when it’s warm, with a breeze and low humidity. The low humidity helps it to stay in the air longer.
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Keep windows and doors closed to prevent pollen from drifting inside.
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Use air purifiers with HEPA filters if you can.
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Shower and change clothes after being outdoors to wash off pollen.
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Allergy medicine can help control symptoms.
Ragweed season is tough, but with a little preparation, you can manage those sneezes and still enjoy your days!
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