More bad news for allergy sufferers; weed, grass and tree pollen high

By Mary Manning

Tuesday, April 1, 2008 | 5 p.m.

Mulberry and pine tree pollen remain in the high to very high category in the Las Vegas Valley's air, but grasses and weeds joined the misery count for allergy sufferers.

The mulberry tree pollen, which is carried on catkins that look like caterpillars, has been driving some allergy sufferers mad. But it hasn't shattered the record for Las Vegas this year.

The highest mulberry tree pollen count this year of 15,955 grains per cubic meter was recorded on March 18 at Griffith Elementary School near the Meadows Mall at Alta Drive and Valley View Boulevard. The same site reported 4,162 grains per cubic meter on Monday.

The valley's record mulberry pollen count came on March 17, 1997, when 59,681 grains per cubic meter were counted. The Griffith School area tends to have high mulberry pollen counts, as do other monitors in older neighborhoods across the valley.

From two to 17 grains of grass pollen were measured in monitors across the valley, according to the Clark County Department of Air Quality & Environmental Management. Grass pollen counts ranging from 5 to 19 grains per cubic meter of air are considered moderate.

And weed pollen counts ranging from 12 to 32 grains per cubic meter were measured across the valley on Monday. Weed pollen ranges from 10 to 49 grains per cubic meter are listed as moderate.