Our Mission
PollenTracker is an independent tool built by a dad for his allergic kids. We answer one question every morning: “Should we go outside today?” We aggregate authoritative pollen, air quality, and weather data and translate it into a clear YES / CAUTION / NO recommendation for 800+ cities across the US and UK.
We are not a medical organization. The information on PollenTracker is provided to help everyday decisions like “is it safe to take the kids to the park this afternoon?” — not to replace consultation with a licensed allergist.
Data Sources
All live data on PollenTracker comes from established public sources. We do not generate or estimate values ourselves.
| Signal | Source | Coverage | Refresh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollen (tree / grass / weed) | Google Pollen API | US, UK, most EU | Daily, ~6 AM local |
| Air quality (AQI) | EPA AirNow (US), OpenWeather (UK) | Live monitoring stations | Hourly |
| Weather forecast | Open-Meteo | National weather services | Hourly |
| Allergy season patterns | AAFA Annual Allergy Capitals, National Allergy Bureau (NAB) historical data | 800+ US/UK cities | Annual review |
Each city page footer lists which specific source was used for today's reading, including fallback status when the primary source is unavailable.
Methodology: YES / CAUTION / NO
We combine pollen severity, air quality, and weather amplifiers (wind, rain) into a single daily recommendation. The full decision table — including the exact NAB-based pollen thresholds we use — is published transparently on our homepage reference card.
Boundaries of the model: our algorithm assumes a generally healthy person with mild-to-moderate seasonal allergies. It does not account for individual sensitivities (e.g. a specific allergy to a particular tree species), asthma, or co-occurring conditions. People with severe allergies, immunocompromised people, and pediatric patients should consult their allergist before relying on a daily recommendation.
Pollen Count Thresholds
We use the categorization published by the National Allergy Bureau (NAB) — the same thresholds reported by US allergists and pollen counting stations. The full table (tree, grass, weed, mold) is on our pollen levels reference card.
Editorial Process
- Live data: Refreshed automatically by scheduled jobs. Pollen daily at 6 AM local; AQI and weather hourly.
- City coverage: Reviewed periodically based on user feedback, search-log analysis, and observed data anomalies. Misspelled slugs, missing state suffixes, and out-of-coverage areas are corrected as they surface.
- Long-form guides: Researched from primary sources (peer-reviewed studies, government health agencies, AAFA reports). Every health claim cited inline.
- Guide updates: Long-form guides are revisited whenever new authoritative research is published or when reader feedback flags outdated information. Statistics are dated so freshness is verifiable.
Corrections Policy
Found a factual error or out-of-date claim? Email hello@pollentracker.app with the URL and the issue (subject line “Correction” helps it route faster). We aim to respond within a few business days and publicly note material corrections at the top of the affected article, including the date the correction was made.
What This Site Is NOT
PollenTracker provides pollen and air quality data for everyday decision-making. It is not:
- A substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment
- A prescription tool for allergy medication
- A replacement for emergency services if you experience a severe allergic reaction
For medical guidance, contact a licensed allergist:
- United States: AAAAI Find an Allergist
- United Kingdom: BSACI (British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology)
- Patient resources: AAFA Patient Information
Funding & Independence
PollenTracker is supported by display advertising. We do not sell user data. We currently do not accept paid placements in our city pages or editorial guides; if that ever changes, sponsored content will be clearly disclosed at the top of any affected page. Advertisers have no influence over our methodology or which sources we use.
Reviewers & Advisory
We are in the process of adding board-certified allergists to our advisory panel. Reviewer names and credentials will be listed here as they are formally confirmed. In the meantime, our content prioritizes citation of established authoritative sources (NAB, AAFA, NIH) over personal medical claims.
Contact
Reach out at hello@pollentracker.app for general feedback, content corrections, or editorial inquiries. Use the subject line “Correction” for factual errors so they route to the top of the queue.
This page is reviewed annually or whenever our data sources or methodology change. See the date in the byline at the top for the most recent review.