How UNLV Collects Pollen Samples

CCSD/UNLV Pollen Monitoring Program

Airborne pollen is a health concern for many residents in Clark County. In 2013, the Clark County School District (CCSD) and the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) established the Pollen Monitoring Program to provide local pollen and mold spore counts in Las Vegas. Regular monitoring and reporting of airborne pollen concentrations can help sensitive individuals prepare for or avoid exposure.

Pollen Counts: Summarized Reports by Year

What These Levels Mean

  • Absent
    No symptoms.
  • Low
    Only individuals extremely sensitive to these pollens will experience symptoms.
  • Moderate
    Many individuals sensitive to these pollens will experience symptoms.
  • High
    Most individuals with any sensitivity to these pollens will experience symptoms.
  • Very High
    Almost all individuals with any sensitivity at all to these pollens will experience symptoms. Extremely sensitive people could have severe problems.

Pollen and Mold Counts

We provide updated pollen and mold counts for the Las Vegas area. Below is a map of the current collection stations.

UNLV Site

Our UNLV station is certified by the National Allergy Bureau (NAB). Visit the NAB Pollen and Mold Report page for more information about daily pollen and mold counts in the UNLV site.

CCSD Sites

Currently we have 4 Clark County School District sites. These school samples are collected weekly, 365 days a year.

  • Jerome D. Mack Middle School
  • Sunrise Acres Elementary School
  • Joseph M. Neal Elementary School
  • Palo Verde High School

Remote Sites

  • Jean, NV

Seasonal Allergy Management and Treatment

  • Monitor pollen and mold counts. Weather reports in newspapers and on radio and television often include this information during allergy seasons.
  • Keep windows and doors shut at home and in your car during allergy season.
  • To avoid pollen, know which pollens you are sensitive to and then check pollen counts. In spring and summer, during tree and grass pollen season, levels are highest in the evening. In late summer and early fall, during ragweed pollen season, levels are highest in the morning.
  • Take a shower, wash your hair and change your clothes after you’ve been working or playing outdoors.
  • Wear a NIOSH-rated 95 filter mask when mowing the lawn or doing other chores outdoors, and take appropriate medication beforehand.
  • If symptoms persist then consult an allergist.

Education

2020

Findlay Middle School

2019

Lied Stem Academy

2018

Pollen and Mold Lectures at the John C Fremont Middle School

Pollen and Mold Lectures at the Carroll M Johnston Middle School

2015

Pollen and Mold Lectures at the Desert Rose Adult High School

Pollen and Mold Lectures at the UNLV Rebel STEM Academy

2014

Pollen and Mold Lectures at the West Career & Technology Academy

Research

Publications

Presentations

  • American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting
    • 2024 - Comparison of the Airborne Fungal Spore Concentration in Las Vegas and the Mojave Desert From 2020-2022
    • 2023 - Annual Comparison of Grass, Tree, and Weed Pollen in Las Vegas, Nevada, From 2019-2021
    • 2022 - Comparison of the Airborne Fungal Spore Concentrations in the Mojave Desert and Las Vegas From 2016-2020
    • 2021- Annual Comparison of Weed Pollen in Las Vegas and the Mojave Desert From 2017-2019 (Presented virtually)
    • 2020 - Annual Comparison of Grass, Tree, and Weed Pollen in Las Vegas From 2015-2018 (Presented virtually)
    • 2019 - Annual Variation Among Tree Pollen In Las Vegas From 2015-2018
    • 2018 - Comparison of Airborne Mulberry and Olive Pollen Concentrations in Southern Nevada in 2016
    • 2017 - Comparison of Airborne Mold in the Mojave Desert and Las Vegas
    • 2016 - Seasonal Tree, Weed and Grass Pollen Patterns in the Las Vegas Valley
    • 2015 - Mulberry - A Chronic Pollen Offender in Las Vegas
  • Nevada Public Health Association (NPHA) Annual Meeting Las Vegas
    • 2022 - Comparison of Mulberry and Olive Pollen in 2020 Among Five Monitoring Locations in Las Vegas
    • 2020 - Annual Comparison of Grass, Tree, and Weed Pollen in Las Vegas from 2015-2019 (presented virtually)
    • 2018- Variation of Airborne Mulberry and Olive Pollen Concentrations Among Five Locations in Las Vegas in 2016
  • American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI)
    • 2016 - Comparison of Airborne Pollen in the Mojave Desert and Las Vegas
    • 2015 - Mulberry and Olive Pollen in Las Vegas

News

U.N.L.V. Football players entering Allegiant Stadium

A collection of news stories highlighting the experts and student changemakers at UNLV.

Trees on main campus

Tips for avoiding the spores that make you sneeze and snore from UNLV's Pollen Monitoring Program.

Tanvi Patel collects a pollen sample

The student who directs the UNLV/CCSD Pollen Monitoring Program dishes on allergy relief tips, common misconceptions about pollen, and why technology can’t replace the human eye.

In the News

Contact

Asma Tahir, MPH
Pollen Program Supervisor
School of Public Health
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Phone: 702-895-1285
Email: UNLVPollen@gmail.com

Mark Buttner, Professor
Principal Investigator
School of Public Health
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Email: mark.buttner@unlv.edu

Dennis A. Bazylinski, Professor
Co-Principal Investigator
School of Life Sciences
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Email: dennis.bazylinski@unlv.edu