Climate Change Set to Worsen Pollen Allergies

The impact of climate change could lead to a rise in the cost of treating pollen allergies in the United States, according to a new report issued on 14 April.

Compiled jointly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and the National Wildlife Federation, the report suggests a health care rise to beyond the present annual cost of $32bn is possible. According to the report, this overall $32bn allergies/asthma cost is the result of actual medical costs, the financial impact of time spent off work and reduced productivity, combined.

Climate Change: Pollen

A rise in this cost would come from the planet warming up through climate change, extended growing seasons becoming the norm and consequent pollen production rate escalations, the report explains, adding that allergic asthma attacks would likely become more intense.

“Climate change could allow highly allergenic trees like oaks and hickories to start replacing pines, spruces and firs that generally don't cause allergies, exposing many more people to springtime allergy triggers”, National Wildlife Federation climate scientist, Amanda Staudt, told news agency Reuters, adding that, already, spring was arriving two weeks ahead of schedule compared to two decades earlier.

Allergic Asthma: Climate Change

Approximately 10 million US residents – roughly three per cent of the population – suffer from allergic asthma, which means they have asthma attacks due to pollen or similar allergens in the air. The onset of climate change will probably induce an increase in the frequency of allergic asthmatic episodes, the report states.

The ragweed plant is a particular trigger of allergies due to the pollen it produces. It is anticipated that climate change will cause the ragweed to expand in size, produce more pollen and produce it for a longer period of time. What’s more, there might also be a link between ragweed and atmospheric CO2, with the plant’s rate of growth connected to the gas as its presence builds up.

“With more carbon dioxide, each ragweed plant can produce more pollen and can even produce more allergenic pollen, so fall allergies are going to get a pretty big hit”, Staudt explained to Reuters.