Hay Fever, Pollen & Indoor Air Quality

Allergic rhinitis is an allergic 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. Common symptoms may include a runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, and itchy eyes and throat.

Since hay fever often involves an allergic reaction to pollen, the amount of pollen in the air will affect whether symptoms will 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. Pollen can also aggravate other respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Allergic rhinitis may be seasonal or perennial. Seasonal allergic rhinitis occurs particularly during pollen seasons and perennial allergic rhinitis occurs throughout the year.

Exposure to pollen for sensitive individuals, both outdoors and indoors, can result in increased absenteeism, lower worker productivity, medical expenses and a reduced quality of life.

Fortunately, 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 pollen season; testing the indoors for elevated levels of pollen and additional common allergens, such as mold, dust mites, animal dander and other indoor air quality contaminants; and utilizing air filtration.

These are just a few of the many things to know about hay fever, pollen and indoor air quality. To learn more about this or other building science, environmental, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.