Canberra's heyfever sufferers set to face pollen increase in spring due to wet winter

Leading pollen expert Simon Haberle from the Australian National University said allergy sufferers in the ACT would be hit hard from a heightened level of pollens plaguing the area.

"This is perhaps an indication of another bumper year for airborne pollen in and around the ACT," Professor Haberle said.

Canberra has the highest number of people suffering from hayfever compared to any other major city in Australia, with nearly a third of residents suffering from sinus issues.

The bush capital's pollen woes are so bad, it costs the ACT economy nearly $170 million per year due to the impacts on health, happiness and productivity.

The Canberra Pollen centre has recorded extreme levels of pollen from cypress pine trees in the region, which usually occurs from a wet winter.

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Professor Haberle warned the warming weather following on from a wet winter could create the perfect storm of extreme pollen.

"A combination of the warming weather, a wet winter with high soil moisture and windy days are all signs that are pointing to another record pollen season," he said.

"On 12 August we saw our first extreme allergenic pollen day of cypress pine pollen, which was followed on 16 August by another extreme cypress pollen day in combination with high pine pollen as well."

Major pollens impacting the ACT region include cypress pine, pine spores, ash trees and fungal spores.

ANU and the Canberra Pollen centre are set to implement a spore watch program, which will monitor the level of pollen around the city and its parks.

"We're developing spatial maps of pollen allergy risk across Canberra using surveys of garden and street plants," Professor Haberle said.

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