May 6th, 2010
Climate Change Adds More Suffering
Climate change has been said to be the cause for the extended allergy season.
Suffering from sneezing, congestion, runny noses, headaches being caused by allergic rhinitis otherwise known as hay fever could be lasting longer due to prolonged pollen seasons on account of climate change. Doctors in Italy from the European Pollen Information Service (EPIS) have done extended research for the last six years concentrating specifically on the environmental effects of climate change on the pollen season and the amount of pollen in the air. The studies have conclusively proved that the pollen season and pollen count have progressively increased year on year.
The conclusion of the increased pollen season is said to be due to the average temperature increasing. Warmer winters and springs due to climate change has resulted in the tree pollen season beginning earlier and has effected plant distribution over Europe allowing some non inhabitant species of allergic plants to spread.
The start of the birch tree pollen season in the UK has turned out to be earlier by five days per decade for the last 30 years. The UK has a very large percentage of its population suffering from hay fever and the European results in lengthened pollen seasons have been seen also in the UK. 25% of the UK’s population suffer from allergic rhinitis and this could now increase numbers of those allergic or heighten symptoms, increasing the burden of health, cost and working life for these sufferers.