Pollen count monitoring kicks off at The James Hutton Institute

As hayfever season approaches, scientists at The James Hutton Institute have begun their daily monitoring of pollen levels from 12 plant and tree species known to trigger hayfever. The team will continue reporting on pollen counts, air quality, and fungal spore levels every day through to the end of September.

The James Hutton Institute is a global leader in scientific research, equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories and field stations that support groundbreaking experiments and data collection. This research plays a crucial role in informing policy decisions and driving future innovations.

For over 30 years, the Institute has been a member of the UK Pollen Monitoring Network, managed by the Met Office, making it one of the longest-serving contributors. As one of only two pollen monitoring sites in Scotland, The Hutton provides essential data for national pollen forecasts across central and eastern Scotland, while a site in Eskdalemuir helps forecast pollen levels for western Scotland.

The Met Office uses the data collected by the national network, along with local weather data and expertise from other organisations, to produce daily pollen forecasts. These forecasts categorize pollen levels as Low, Moderate, High, or Very High.

Dr. Roy Neilson, Group Leader of Plant Soil Interactions at The Hutton, who oversees the project, explained:

“Airborne pollen allergens are closely linked to both asthma and hayfever, which collectively cost the UK economy approximately £3 million annually due to reduced productivity. Accurate forecasting is vital in providing advance warnings of pollen events, and the pollen data collected at The Hutton plays a key role in this process.”

The Hutton’s pollen counter pulls in 10 litres of air every minute, recording the number of pollen grains per cubic metre over a 24-hour period.

The pollen season is divided into three main phases:

1. Tree Pollen – Late March to mid-May

2. Grass Pollen – Mid-May to July

3. Weed Pollen – End of June to September