March 8, 2023 — If it looks like the pollen season is getting worse yearly, it might be since the pollen season has been increasing for years, a new report says.
Climate change has caused temperatures to rise in 203 American cities since 1970, resulting in longer allergy seasons in greater than 170 of them, based on the Climate Central report. In some areas of the country, the primary blooms are appearing weeks earlier.
The “frost-free” seasons are getting longer and more intense, the group says – and that’s bad news for the quarter of adults and fifth of kids that suffer from seasonal allergies.
According to experts, all seasonal allergies are affected – trees in spring, grasses in summer and weeds in autumn.
“The plants can grow earlier and pollinate earlier. Allergies are getting worse,” said Kari Nadeau, MD, professor on the Harvard School of Public Health, abc news.
Respiratory diseases reminiscent of asthma can worsen the pollen response.
“This is a big problem and it will only get worse if we do not curb climate change and limit carbon dioxide production from greenhouse gases,” Nadeau said.
ABC reported that pollen levels are peaking earlier today than before and that pollen concentrations are also higher.
Allergy season lengthened by a median of two weeks, the study found. Reno, Nevada, saw a rise of 99 days, considered one of the biggest. The West of the country generally saw the biggest increases.
“Climate change may lead to both higher pollen concentrations and longer pollen seasons, causing more people to suffer more from the health effects of pollen and other allergens,” the CDC says.