Spring Allergies and Identifying Pollen and Other Allergens in Homes and Buildings

With the arrival of spring, many flowering plants, trees, and grasses are releasing large amounts of pollen into the air. The fine powdery substance can be carried by the wind significant distances, getting into people’s homes, businesses, and schools.

For anyone exposed to pollen, it can cause various symptoms, or none at all. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that for individuals that are allergic to pollen, exposure can trigger various allergic reactions, including symptoms of hay fever. Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, occurs when allergens like pollen enter the body and the immune system mistakenly identifies them as a threat. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis, which may include sneezing, runny nose, and congestion, affects as many as 60 million people per year in the United States.

Pollen exposure can also trigger symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the lining of the eye (conjunctiva) due to exposure to allergens like those in pollen. Symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis include red, watery, or itchy eyes.

“People with respiratory illnesses may also be more sensitive to pollen,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Exposure to pollen has been linked to asthma attacks and increases in hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses. It’s also important to recognize there could be other common indoor allergens causing allergies. These include mold, animal danger, and dust mites to name just a few.”

North America’s leading environmental allergen, asthma trigger and respiratory irritant testing provider is EMSL Analytical, Inc. With laboratories across the United States and Canada, EMSL specializes in providing comprehensive air and indoor environmental quality testing services, sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits, and air monitoring instruments. EMSL also recently sponsored an educational video about pollen allergies and indoor air quality that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/z2j-r2tkrsU

To learn more about environmental allergen, asthma trigger, and respiratory irritant testing services, sampling supplies or monitoring instruments, please visit www.EMSL.com, email  info@EMSL.com  or call (800) 220-3675. To access IAQ test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com. 

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products, and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP, and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail