On the other hand, he considered that the pollen concentration is not yet included within the air quality criteria. For this reason, communication has been established with the Ministry of the Environment of the capital, so that this parameter is considered in the notices and indices that they provide to the public.
The university explained that REMA monitors to show the main pollen types and their concentration levels present in the air throughout the year, through five stations located in CDMX and its metropolitan area, as well as one in the states of Sonora, and Sinaloa. Activities will soon resume at other stations in CDMX and the State of Mexico, which were stopped due to the health emergency. The information can be consulted on the Network page, through the ICAyCC website.
Spring Allergy Symptoms
Guillermo Guidos, an allergist associated with REMA, explained that when some pollens travel and susceptible people breathe them, there are direct effects on their quality of life; that is, pollinosis occurs, formerly called “hay fever” or “spring allergy”, a multifactorial condition.
Its main symptoms are conjunctivitis, characterized by red eyes, itching, tearing and inflammation; or, affectations in the respiratory tract, through itchy nose, frequent sneezing, runny nose or obstruction and, in some people, asthma (shortness of breath, choking sensation or whistling chest).
Although many patients have the greatest number of symptoms in winter and spring, it should not be forgotten that pollens are present throughout the year, even if they are from different species. That is why the task of the REMA is fundamental, where every day it is pointed out what substances are in the environment and what is their impact on health.
“It is a valuable tool because it explains how variable pollen concentrations are in different geographical areas”; also, the different allergenic grains present and allows to study the effectiveness of the treatments. “As doctors, we can have it as an input and give recommendations to patients.”