A new national pollen monitoring and warning system is set to blow away the risk of hay fever for the hundreds of thousands of Australians with asthma.
Spring is just a couple of weeks away and brings with it increased levels of pollen - marking the start of hay fever season.
For the 1.8 million Australians with asthma, hay fever can trigger a potentially life-threatening asthma attack.
In a bid to save lives, new standardised pollen monitoring and reporting will begin on September 1.
The AusPollen Partnership will expand the number of pollen monitoring stations across Australia and ensure that pollen traps in each city are maintained and located within set guidelines.
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Associate Professor Janet Davies from the Queensland University of Technology says a structured approach to gathering pollen data will help Australians understand their risk of hay fever.
"They can use this information to determine when to take medication or limit outdoor activities," she said.
The project, launched by Asthma Australia, will also provide daily pollen alerts via smart phones.
