Hay Fever in Puerto Rico and Identifying Pollen, Mold and Other Airborne Allergens in Homes and Buildings

Allergic rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal airways that can occur when an environmental allergen, such as pollen or mold, is inhaled by an individual with a sensitized immune system. This type of allergic rhinitis is often referred to as hay fever and may be seasonal or perennial.

Since hay fever often involves an allergic reaction to pollen, the amount of pollen in the air will affect whether symptoms develop or not for many people. The types of pollen that cause hay fever vary depending on the individual and may include tree, grass and ragweed pollen. This same pollen can also aggravate other respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

“Allergy and asthma rates in Puerto Rico are higher than most other parts of the United States,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “There are a number of factors for why this is likely the case, including our tropical climate which is conducive for the growth of mold and year-round pollen. Unfortunately, exposure to pollen or mold for sensitive individuals, both outdoors and indoors, can have a negative impact on a person’s quality of life, not to mention increased absenteeism and lower productivity at school or work, and costly medical expenses.”

The good news is there are steps people can take to prevent or mitigate their hay fever symptoms in addition to medical treatment. This may include avoiding the outdoors during periods of high pollen; testing the indoors for elevated levels of pollen and additional common allergens, such as mold, dust mites, animal dander and other contaminants; and utilizing air filtration.

To help property owners, facility managers and tenants optimize indoor conditions to prevent or mitigate hay fever symptoms and various other respiratory concerns, the indoor environmental quality and industrial hygiene experts at Zimmetry offer testing, monitoring and consulting services. Their professionals utilize decades of experience, and the latest tools and resources, to identify and mitigate exposure risks to indoor allergens, respiratory irritants and known asthma triggers.

Zimmetry also recently sponsored an educational video about hay fever and indoor air quality that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/nnzsMSWpBtI

To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their building science, indoor environmental quality, industrial hygiene, compliance and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .

About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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