National Allergy Report

Palms are not a single uniform pollen problem across North America, but they can still matter to allergy sufferers in the places where they are common. In the United States, the strongest outdoor palm exposure is concentrated in Florida, the Gulf and south Atlantic coastal plain, the lower Rio Grande region, desert oasis habitats in the Southwest, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and some frost-free subtropical landscapes where outdoor palms are long established.^1-7

Eugene remained in the top severity band, while high grass readings held around Chicago, Wisconsin, Oklahoma City, Waco, San Juan, Portland, and Colorado Springs. Tree pollen is now mostly limited to the West and Puerto Rico, and mold was mainly a local issue in Austin, Chicago, and St. Louis.

Eugene remained the only station in the top severity band, and the high list also included Oklahoma, Texas, Puerto Rico, Olean, Washington, and Richmond. Tree pollen is now mostly a northern and western pocket issue, while mold stayed elevated in Austin and San Antonio and rose in St. Louis.

Eugene remained the sharpest grass location, while Wisconsin, Chicago, Portland, Seattle, Puerto Rico, and parts of Oklahoma and Texas stayed active. Tree pollen is now more concentrated in northern locations, while weeds are still mostly quiet.

Birches in the genus Betula are among the most recognizable spring-pollen trees in North America. For allergy sufferers, they matter because birch pollen is lightweight, readily airborne, and strongly associated with classic spring hay fever. In the United States, the biggest wild-birch exposure zones are the Northeast, Great Lakes, Upper Midwest, Alaska, and mountain West, but the birch story does not stop there. River birch extends the genus well into the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, lower Midwest, and parts of south-central states, so birch-related exposure can appear outside the colder northern forest belt many patients expect.^1-3