Fall allergens out in full swing

After a fairly wet summer conditions have gradually dried up into the early fall. This is a perfect recipe for fall allergens as rain kept plants and weeds alive during the hot months and now drier weather allows pollen to spread.

The pollen count remains high or very high for the foreseeable forecast in mid-MO. The primary allergens right now are grasses, ragweed, chenopods, and nettle. Grass is becoming less of a concern as we head out of summer transitioning to weeds and mold. Ragweed is in abundance this time of year and is responsible for around half of all allergies in the fall.

While mold is sometimes overlooked in pollen forecasts mold spores can be just as prevalent in the air as pollen and dust. Mold thrives in the heat and humidity and sticks around into the fall as leaves decay. Some of the most common allergy-inducing molds include alternaria, aspergillus, cladosporium, and penicillium.