High Pollen Counts Irritate All -- Old and New: Warmer Winter, Lack of Rain Contribute to Rise in Wh

Mar 29, 04:39 AM

Current Headlines: By Leigh Dyer, The Charlotte Observer, N.C.

Mar. 29--The annual bout of spring sneezing and wheezing, the bleary eyes and the yellow film coating cars, seem just a little worse than usual for most longtimers.

But for many newcomers experiencing their first batch of Charlotte-area spring pollen, it's pure misery.

Cindy Carrasquilla moved here from Manhattan a month ago with a Mazda Miata convertible, sans air conditioning. "This weekend, I was driving around and literally it was nonstop sneezing," she said. "I'm considering selling my car."

After a flurry of phone calls this week, she finally got an appointment with an allergist -- for the second week in April.

Her experience is typical. With pollen counts hitting highs, doctor appointments are filling up and medication is running out in drugstores.

"I wish I could duplicate myself this time of year," said Gray Norris, an allergist with Carolina Asthma and Allergy Center in Charlotte.

The warmer-than-usual winter is contributing to vigorous pollen output, and the lack of recent rain has worsened the situation, he said. Expected rain may bring relief soon.

While the yellow pine pollen is the most visible, it's not to blame for most of the sneezing -- many other less visible pollens, such as cedar and elm, contribute to allergies, he said.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America plans to put out its annual list of top spring allergy capitals next week, and Charlotte will rank No. 9, said spokeswoman Angel Waldron. On Wednesday, the Charlotte region's pollen count hit 3,257 particles per cubic meter of air.

One result: business is booming at car washes. The most popular request at the Auto Bell chain has been for exterior wipedowns to get pollen off car finishes, said Judith Pittelko, executive assistant in CEO Chuck Howard's office. "Local people are complaining just as much as the newcomers," she said.

Kelli Robinson, who moved to Mooresville from Pittsburgh last July, is among those taken by surprise. "There's lots more sun in Charlotte," she e-mailed. "But while we're no longer suffering from lack of sun, we're still at the mercy of the seasons! I've lost track of how many boxes of tissues and rolls of paper towels (to wipe down the deck table) I've gone through!"

Jeff Barber, who moved to Matthews last August, said he and his wife experienced plenty of pollen in New York state's Hudson Valley where they lived, but not like here. "These big clumps that are really just splashing down on the car is just something we've never seen before," he said.

"It's gonna be a rough spring."

LIVING here

Pollen and Allergy Information

--Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center measures pollen daily: www.carolinaasthma.com --Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, www.aafa.org , plans to release its full list of the top 100 spring allergy capitals for 2007 on Tuesday at www.allergycapitals.com . Charlotte will rank No. 9, a spokeswoman said.

Tips

--Minimize outdoor activity between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., when pollen counts are usually highest.

--Keep windows closed to prevent pollen from drifting into the house.

--Avoid hanging laundry out to dry; it may trap pollen and mold.

--Wear a dust mask when mowing the lawn, raking leaves or gardening, and take appropriate medication beforehand.

--Consider exercising indoors during peak allergy seasons, especially on windy days.

--Wash your hair when you come inside during pollen season, especially before going to sleep, to keep allergens off your bedding.

--Change clothes after outdoor activity.

--Wash and brush outdoor pets often.

--Invest in a filter for your air conditioning system that filters pollen.

--Keep an air purifier with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate) filter in your bedroom. Leigh

Dyer

Newcomer reporter Leigh Dyer: 704-358-5058; Ldyer@charlotteobserver.com

-----

Copyright (c) 2007, The Charlotte Observer, N.C.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.