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Ah, spring. Flowers! Lawn sports! Baby birds! Lots and lots of snot. Yes folks, this year's pollen counts, especially in the southeast, are through the roof, and as our intrepid reporter Kate Sheppard wrote between sneezing fits last week, a new study from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) suggests allergies will likely become even more fierce if the planet continues to heat up.
Researchers found that not only is spring coming earlier, making for a longer allergy season, but warmer weather allows hickory and oak, two of the most allergenic tree species, to thrive almost everywhere in the US. Another factor: Some plants, such as ragweed, are actually making more pollen as the environment changes. "As trees that use the wind to pollinate undergo stress from heat or lack of water, they begin to produce more pollen to compensate," explained NWF climate scientist Amanda Staudt. Scientists have already observed this phenomenon in cities, where C02 levels are an average of 30 percent higher than in suburbs and rural areas. "Cities are where were seeing increased pollen production," explains Demain.
Hayfever's not the only allergic reaction that could worsen with climate change. Sometimes, pollen from certain plants can exacerbate food allergies to related plants, says Jeffrey Demain, director of the Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Center of Alaska. People who are genetically presdisposed to fruit and nut allergies, for example, may find that increased exposure to birch pollen makes their food reactions worse. Similarly, more ragweed pollen could aggravate symptoms in people allergic to melon. Also on the horizon: more aggressive poison ivy. A Duke university study found that poison ivy plants exposed to CO2 produced more potent urushiol, the allergen that causes the famous rash.
So is there any chance we'll adapt by becoming less allergic to all that pollen? Probably not, says Demain. "We dont become more resistant to allergies with exposure, there's evidence that we actually become more allergic. We've actually seen more and more people with allergies for the past 30 years." So what's the solution? Ultimately, the only way to fix the problem is to cut our greenhouse gas emissions, says Staudt. In the meantime, since I'm not wild about the prospect of staying inside all allergy season long, here are three things we allergic people can do to sneeze less:
If you have a garden, choose plants with bright flowers. These are usually pollinated by insects, not the wind, meaning the pollen is generally too big to get into our nasal passages.
Urge your city officials to plant female trees, which don't produce pollen.
If you live in the city (especially one of those listed below), get out to the country every once in a while. (Some cities, like Albuquerque, New Mexico, have actually enacted ordnances against planting certain kinds of highly allergenic trees, though it's not clear how effective these rules are in lowering the pollen count.)
Each year the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America publishes a list of the most allergenic cities. Here's the top 10 from Spring 2010:
1. Knoxville, TN
2. Louisville, KY
3. Chattanooga, TN
4. Dayton, OH
5. Charlotte, NC
6. Philadelphia, PA
7. Greensboro, NC
8. Jackson, MS
9. St. Louis, MO
10. Wichita, KS
Later this week, watch for a Climate Desk piece on how climate change could send health care costs soaring.
http://m.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2010/04/climate-change-making-your-allergies-worse
Researchers found that not only is spring coming earlier, making for a longer allergy season, but warmer weather allows hickory and oak, two of the most allergenic tree species, to thrive almost everywhere in the US. Another factor: Some plants, such as ragweed, are actually making more pollen as the environment changes. "As trees that use the wind to pollinate undergo stress from heat or lack of water, they begin to produce more pollen to compensate," explained NWF climate scientist Amanda Staudt. Scientists have already observed this phenomenon in cities, where C02 levels are an average of 30 percent higher than in suburbs and rural areas. "Cities are where were seeing increased pollen production," explains Demain.
Hayfever's not the only allergic reaction that could worsen with climate change. Sometimes, pollen from certain plants can exacerbate food allergies to related plants, says Jeffrey Demain, director of the Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Center of Alaska. People who are genetically presdisposed to fruit and nut allergies, for example, may find that increased exposure to birch pollen makes their food reactions worse. Similarly, more ragweed pollen could aggravate symptoms in people allergic to melon. Also on the horizon: more aggressive poison ivy. A Duke university study found that poison ivy plants exposed to CO2 produced more potent urushiol, the allergen that causes the famous rash.
So is there any chance we'll adapt by becoming less allergic to all that pollen? Probably not, says Demain. "We dont become more resistant to allergies with exposure, there's evidence that we actually become more allergic. We've actually seen more and more people with allergies for the past 30 years." So what's the solution? Ultimately, the only way to fix the problem is to cut our greenhouse gas emissions, says Staudt. In the meantime, since I'm not wild about the prospect of staying inside all allergy season long, here are three things we allergic people can do to sneeze less:
If you have a garden, choose plants with bright flowers. These are usually pollinated by insects, not the wind, meaning the pollen is generally too big to get into our nasal passages.
Urge your city officials to plant female trees, which don't produce pollen.
If you live in the city (especially one of those listed below), get out to the country every once in a while. (Some cities, like Albuquerque, New Mexico, have actually enacted ordnances against planting certain kinds of highly allergenic trees, though it's not clear how effective these rules are in lowering the pollen count.)
Each year the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America publishes a list of the most allergenic cities. Here's the top 10 from Spring 2010:
1. Knoxville, TN
2. Louisville, KY
3. Chattanooga, TN
4. Dayton, OH
5. Charlotte, NC
6. Philadelphia, PA
7. Greensboro, NC
8. Jackson, MS
9. St. Louis, MO
10. Wichita, KS
Later this week, watch for a Climate Desk piece on how climate change could send health care costs soaring.
http://m.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2010/04/climate-change-making-your-allergies-worse
I used to have horrendous allergies to ragweed, trees and grasses when I was a kid. I had 6 years of allergy shots as a teen, and was able to give up taking antihistamines. Well, that is, until this year. The maple and birch pollens are making for lots of sinus drainage, which absolutely kills my breathing. I'm using every weapon in the arsenal, and it won't change until the trees are done flowering.
I don't know where my pulmonologist learned this, but he actually told me once, that he prefers it if patients have NOT had allergy shots. He thinks that in some people the shots can actually make them have more trouble with their breathing later on in life. I'm not sure how true this is, but he definitely seemed to have an opinion.
I wish there was an answer to this ever worsening problem. Nice post, Holly!
Hugs, Sue
Its very important that we deal with allergies because they can cause exarcabations. Mostly right now we are being bombarded by tree pollen, but the grass and weeds will be in the 3000+ range by the end of May.
I find this time of year is first signs of hayfever for me - I do find tho that an anti-histamine taken daily as required usually helps alleviate my symptoms of discomfort. Docs, drug stores, should be able to advise on compatibility with you other drugs.
Without an anti-histamine I would experience the usual hayfever symptoms and narrowing of the airways.
Great post Softflower :)
Michael Jorde, a physician with the Hilltop Medical Clinic West, said the unusual rain patterns this year have resulted in trees and grass springing to life with a vengeance and releasing high amounts of pollen.
The tree growth is just incredible, he said.
Jorde said this year will set a benchmark for high pollen counts and the resulting allergy problems.
Even people who normally dont suffer from seasonal allergies are coming to the office for treatment, he said."
This is a quote from a No. California newspaper and he sure seems to be right! Watery eyes to repeated sneezing to scratchy throats seems to be the day here. It's doubly hard those prone to asthma.