Sensitivities by Region

The region in which you live can greatly influence your sensitivities. The more you know about the types of sensitivity sources that are common to your area, the better equipped you will be to control your sensitivity symptoms.

Why Are Sensitivity Reactions Different in Different Areas?

Trees, grasses, and weeds do not pollinate at the same time or in the same sequence each year. Also, different regions contain different sensitivity sources that affect people differently.

Common Causes of Sensitivities in Hawaii

Food sensitivities are always important to treat. However, in Hawaii it is common for pollen, particles of plants, the vog, animal dander, feathers, mold spores, red dirt, gecko and cockroach droppings (and more) to come into contact with the lining of the nose, eyes, or throat and cause sensitivity symptoms.

Certain Sensitivity Sources Are Always Present

• Foods — dairy and alcohol
• Molds
• Pollens
• Gecko and cockroach droppings
• Airborne dirt, smoke, and cane ash
• Construction dust
• Dust mites
• House dust
• Household pet danders and/or feathers
• Chemicals used around the house
• Others

Other Sensitivity Sources Are Present at Certain Times

• Seasonal pollens (mock orange, mango)
• Increased mold exposure during the rainy season
• Increased mold exposure during high surf seasons
• Tobacco (and other) smoke

Desert Region Sensitivity Sources

Arizona, New Mexico

In the desert region, cedar, ash, and oak pollinate from February to April. Other sensitivity-causing trees include the cypress, mesquite, ash and olive.

The grass season for this region can last from April until October. The primary sensitivity-causing grasses for the region are brome, Bermuda, salt, rye, Canary and June.

Weeds in the region pollinate from March to December, including the ragweed, chenopod, and sage. Other weeds that can trigger sensitivities include the carelessweed, iodine bush, saltbush/scale, lamb’s quarter, and Russian thistle.

Great Lakes Region Sources of Sensitivities

Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio

In the Great Lakes region, sensitivity-provoking trees pollinate from March to June. The most common sensitivity-causing trees in this region are the elm, maple/box elder, alder, birch, oak and hickory. The oak tree may continue pollinating until mid-June.

Many grasses pollinate in this region during the summer from May to July. Starting in May, redtop, brome, orchard grass, fescue, rye, Bermuda and timothy pollinate.

Weeds generally pollinate from July to September, including ragweed, plantain and nettle. Other sensitivity-causing weeds in the region include the waterhemp, lamb’s-quarter, pigweed, Mexican fire bush, and Russian thistle. Later in the season, hemp can cause problems for sensitivity sufferers typically from mid-July to mid-August. Then, from early August until late September, ragweed pollinates in this region.

Mountain Region Sources of Sensitivities

Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado

In the Mountain region, trees usually pollinate from March to May. The primary sensitivity-causing trees include the cedar, maple and oak. Other trees that may trigger sensitivities are the box elder, alder, birch, juniper, oak and ash.

Grasses pollinate from April to July in this region. Some of the more problematic grasses include quack/wheat, redtop, brome, Bermuda and orchard.

Weeds take over from early June through October, including ragweed, tumbleweed, and chenopod. Other weeds that may cause sensitivities include waterhemp, pigweed, iodine bush, saltbush/scale, sugarbeet, lamb’s-quarter, Mexican fire bush, and Russian thistle.

Northeast Region Sources of Sensitivities

Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia

Beginning in February and lasting until June, several types of trees in this region produce sensitivity-causing pollen, particularly birch, maple/box elder, oak, juniper/cedar and pine.

From May to late August, grasses pollinate in the area, including orchard, redtop, fescue, and timothy. Other sensitivity-causing grasses in the region include vernal and Bermuda.

From August to October, weeds such as ragweed, plantain and nettle pollinate in this region. Other weeds that can trigger sensitivities include the lamb’s-quarter, cocklebur, pigweed and Mexican fire bush.

Pacific Region Sources of Sensitivities

Washington, Oregon, California

In the Pacific region, trees usually pollinate from February to June. The trees that cause the most sensitivity-related problems in this region are the cedar, walnut and rye. Other trees that may cause sensitivities in this region are the hazel, juniper, alder, ash, birch, box elder and oak.

Grasses generally pollinate from March to November in this region. Some of the most common sensitivity-causing grasses are sweet vernal, fescue, bluegrass, Bermuda, brome, orchard, quack, wheat and redtop.

The weed season for the region generally lasts from April to November, including ragweed, chenopod and sage. Other weeds that can cause sensitivity problems include pigweed, iodine bush, saltbush, lamb’s-quarter, Mexican fire bush, and Russian thistle.

Plains Region Sources of Sensitivities

North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas

In this region, trees pollinate from March to May, including the oak and cedar. Other sensitivity-causing trees include the alder, birch, maple/box elder and hazelnut.

Grasses pollinate from late May to July in this region, including quack/wheat, redtop, brome, orchard and rye.

Weeds take over from July through September, including ragweed, plantain and nettle. Other sensitivity-causing weeds include the water hemp, pigweed, lamb’s-quarter, Mexican fire bush, and Russian thistle.

Southern Region Sources of Sensitivities

Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina

In this region, a variety of trees can cause sensitivities in some people for short periods of time. Some of the most common sensitivity-causing trees are the pecan, oak and cedar. Other trees that can cause sensitivities include the maple/box elder, birch and hickory.

Grass pollens can pollinate nearly year-round in parts of this region. Some of the most problematic grasses are Bermuda, bahia, redtop, vernal, orchard, rye, salt grass, fescue and timothy.

Among the sensitivity-causing weeds are ragweed, plantain and nettle. Other weeds to watch out for are lamb’s-quarter, sagebrush, English plantain, pigweed, waterhemp and carelessweed.

Southwest Region Sources of Sensitivities

Oklahoma, Texas

In the Southwest region, cedar, elm, and oak begin pollinating in early January and end in June. Other sensitivity-causing trees include the box elder and mesquite. Elm begins in late January and ends in April, and olive pollinates from mid-March to mid-April.

The grass season for this region usually begins in April and lasts until September. The primary sensitivity-causing grasses for the region are Bermuda, quack/wheat and redtop.

Weeds in the region include ragweed, chenopod, and dock, which pollinate between July and October. Other sensitivity-causing weeds include waterhemp, carelessweed/pigweed, saltbush/scale and lamb’s-quarter.

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[Reference: Surveillance Data Inc., 2001]