Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

Allergic Suffer More as Dry Spell Ups Pollen Count

Southern California's abnormally dry weather season is making life worse for allergy sufferers. KPBS reporter Ed Joyce explains.

Allergic Suffer More as Dry Spell Ups Pollen Count

Southern California's abnormally dry weather season is making life worse for allergy sufferers. KPBS reporter Ed Joyce explains.

Tree pollen has been especially high in some areas of San Diego and Los Angeles recently. Allergists say the lack of rain has increased spring pollen -- and hay fever across the region. The dry spell has not washed away the pollen that causes sneezing, runny noses, red eyes and itching caused by allergies. Dr. Eli Meltzer is with a San Diego allergy and asthma research center.

Advertisement

Meltzer : For example we have Santa Ana weather conditions which occur throughout the year. If the wind is coming from the east, off the desert, we quadruple the amount of pollen we have in the air. So if the wind is coming, which also from the east is a drier kind of level of humidity, we tend to have much higher amounts of pollen, much higher amounts of mold.

San Diego is about seven inches below normal rainfall this season. Los Angeles is in the midst of its driest water year on record. Ed Joyce, KPBS News.