CANBERRA has been identified Australia’s hay fever capital as data from The Australian National University (ANU) Canberra Pollen project shows record high pollen levels.

Project leader Professor Simon Haberle says pollen levels are twice as high in 2015 compared to last season, which included a record day for emergency admissions for chronic asthma at Canberra Hospital.

“It’s the Godzilla of hay fever seasons,” Simon said.

“We’re starting to see a lot more grass in the atmosphere this year than we have in previous years.

“This has been triggered by an above average winter rainfall and a warm spring that has brought early North-Westerly winds blowing the pollen into the city.

“Our pollen measurements and the response that people are sending us through the Canberra Pollen Count App pollen app is telling us that this is a really bad season at the moment.

“The project has also been analysing the distribution of plants that cause hay fever across Australia and found Canberra to be the most affected city.

“Canberra comes out as the number one place where you can encounter the most number of plants that can give you hay fever.

Professor Haberle called on the ACT Government to run an education campaign on pollen producing plants to help people understand that some species of garden plants can impact on pollen levels.

He lists Northern hemisphere plants such as birches, elms and an array of grasses as species that can cause hay fever problems.

“It’s important to educate people as to which plants are problematic,” he said.

For more information or to download the free pollen app, go to canberrapollen.com.au.

[Photo via IMDB]