Investigating Pollens That Cause Hay Fever

Chronicle (Levin), 10 June 1949, Page 3

Investigating Pollens That Cause Hay Fever

press Assoeiation) • •'

(Per

WELLINGTQN, Jhn.A^; . New theories about_ thqitf dfsfre.sping early summer complaiut, hay lEe^yexy Are likely to be evolved as the 'resh.lt of investigations that have been. carried out* for somC time by .the polleu section of the Department of Seientic ahd. Industrial Research. V aluable data on hay fever plants/ and their flowerings, have been colleeted by the section and made available, together. with samples of pollen, for medical ihyestigations and clinical tests now being inade on hay fever. Improved devices for the trapping of atmospheric pollen were recently installed in Wellington and Auckland and a suryey of wind.borne pollens has begun in the Napier distriet. Sections of botanists • believe that the" hay fever season may be considered. in three overlapping- .phases: The tree pollen phase, grass pollen phase and herb pollen (weed.) phase. Investigations have shown that in most areas the grass pollen phase is by far the most serious and that pollen is- borne from grasses on roadsides, 'waste- places, coastal- areas and hill sidesi Extensive "showers" of pollen generally.. occur in summer months but it has been tound that pollen of hay fever potencialities from trees and weeds is in existence from July onwards.