FARMINGTON – Sneezing, runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes, symptoms common to asthma and seasonal allergies, may be helped by two small rods, not much longer than an inch, now on the roof at Franklin Memorial Hospital.

The rods collect airborne pollens and molds to be read daily by technologists in the hospital’s lab to report pollen and mold levels for the community, said Suzanne O’Brien, laboratory director.

“Maine has one of the highest adult asthma rates in the country and the Farmington region has one of the highest allergy-related asthma rates in the state,” O’Brien said.

That’s enough reason for the hospital to participate in a pollen study conducted by the Climate Change Institute at the University of Maine at Orono.

Samples are already being taken for the study in Bangor and Presque Isle. Farmington is the third of what will be seven sites across Maine, including Lewiston, Perry, Sanford and Greenville.

Seasonal climate and pollen bloom varies greatly across the state, O’Brien said. There can be up to three weeks’ difference in changes between southern and northern Maine. Pollen affecting the western mountain area may not be the same as in Portland or Aroostook, she said.

The hospital started the count at the end of May, and committed to taking daily counts from April to November on a long-term basis, she said. The goal of the study is to be able to predict when and what will affect allergy sufferers within their part of the state.

The lab identifies tree pollen such as pines, birch, hemlock and maple found locally as well as grass pollen, flowering herbs such as golden rod and ragweed, and dust, O’Brien said.

Daily reports are listed on the hospital Web site – www.fchn.org/news – and in other local media. Along with the total pollen/mold counts, a rating of low, medium, high or very high will be listed.

The type of pollen will be noted in the report so that people can figure out which allergens they are most sensitive to by keeping track of when they are most affected. People can also talk with their doctors about adjusting their medication or staying inside on high pollen days.

“I thought it was important for us to do for our community,” O’Brien said.