It can be transferred by insects or the wind for plant reproduction. Only certified counters can read pollen and mold. The Environmental Health Laboratories has certified counters on staff. Meteorologists, allergy specialists, physicians, and individuals have relied on the Saint Louis County Department of Health for this data since 1960. We report our data to news and weather casters and to health organizations such as the American Lung Association.
Counters use air sampling equipment to capture airborne pollen and mold.
Recently, the Environmental Health Laboratories switched from using a rotorod impaction device to using a Burkard slit-type volumetric spore trap. The rotorod sampled only at specific time intervals while the Burkard is able to continuously sample over a 24 hour period. The device is mounted on the roof of a centrally located County building away from any obstructions. It uses suction to pull air through a slit-type opening. This greased surface collects any particles that are sucked in with the air.