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FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Fairbanks's birch pollen count this year has set a new record for the city.
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports (http://bit.ly/21rXOjg ) that the birch pollen count at the Tanana Valley Clinic was 4,290 on Monday, shattering the previous record of 3,900 from two years ago.
The high counts are irritating to people with allergies and can be dangerous for people with asthma.
Laboratory technician Susan Harry, who comes up with the official count, said Fairbanks was expected to have high counts of birch pollen this year, but that the dry spring was to blame for the record-high numbers.
"It's kind of cyclical," Harry said, "but you put the perfect combination of weather in and it exploded."
Allergy doctor Tim Foote said people with allergy problems can expect some relief when an expected rain storm hits and reduces the pollen. To help ease the cold-like symptoms, he recommends people use over-the-counter allergy medication and cover up while outdoors.
"When you come in from that environment, wash your eyewear, change your clothes into indoor clothing and just make a pact not to touch your eyes," Foote said.
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Information from: Fairbanks (Alaska) Daily News-Miner, http://www.newsminer.com
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