Allergy seasons getting longer and more severe thanks to climate change
By Michael Irving
Climate change may be making pollen season worse, says new study
coendef/Depositphotos
A microscope image of ragweed pollen
Lewis Ziska
For many people, the beauty of spring is countered by the sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes of allergies that come with the warmer weather. For those people, science has some bad news – climate change seems to be making pollen season longer and more severe.
The new study, led by scientists at the University of Utah, compiled almost 30 years of measurements from 60 pollen count stations across the US and Canada. They found that by 2018, the pollen season was starting 20 days earlier, lasting 10 days longer, and involving 21 percent higher pollen concentrations than in 1990.
The team says that tree pollen levels increased more than that of other plants, and Texas and the Midwestern US saw the highest increases in pollen counts.
So why are pollen levels going up? Perhaps unsurprisingly, the researchers link it to the warmer temperatures brought about by climate change.
"A number of smaller-scale studies – usually in greenhouse settings on small plants – had indicated strong links between temperature and pollen," says William Anderegg, lead author of the study. "This study reveals that connection at continental scales and explicitly links pollen trends to human-caused climate change."
To investigate that angle, the team used over 20 climate models and mapped them against the pollen trend data they collected. Through this, they found that climate change could account for about 50 percent of the lengthening of the pollen season, but only eight percent of the pollen amount increase.
It was also found that temperatures were the most important factor driving the increases. The warmer weather appeared to be affecting the biological clocks of plants, causing them to begin producing pollen earlier in the year. Interestingly, higher levels of carbon dioxide didn't seem to have much of a direct impact on pollen levels, beyond being the driver of higher temperatures.
These kinds of allergies might seem trivial, but it's more than just a seasonal sniffle. Allergies can exacerbate conditions like asthma, increase hospital visits and potentially weaken a person's immune defenses against viruses.
"The strong link between warmer weather and pollen seasons provides a crystal-clear example of how climate change is already affecting peoples' health across the US," says Anderegg. "Climate change isn't something far away and in the future. It's already here in every spring breath we take and increasing human misery."
The research was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Source: University of Utah
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Michael Irving
Michael has always been fascinated by space, technology, dinosaurs, and the weirder mysteries of the universe. With a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing and several years experience under his belt, he joined New Atlas as a staff writer in 2016.
aksdad February 11, 2021 07:42 AM
Know what else is getting longer and more productive? Growing season. All this warming and CO2 is a boon to plants, farmers, and people who eat food. Win, win, win.
piperTom February 11, 2021 07:56 AM
This same study could have been about "climate change brings more flowers". But where's the fright in that?!
McDesign February 11, 2021 10:25 AM
You know, why are every single one the climate change deltas RELENTLESSLY NEGATIVE? I mean, you'd think there would be some good news.
Signguy February 11, 2021 11:47 AM
McDesign. Read the other 2 posts...👍
akarp February 11, 2021 01:17 PM
Probably because the 'benefits' of climate change are easy to deal with. It's he negative impact that needs attention. (There are additional systemic issues, null research doesn't get published, and 'negative' stories capture our attention more than 'positive' stories.)
At least the climate deniers are now admitting that climate change is real...step in the right direction.
FYI: Seems like I only see 'aksdad' and 'piperTom' only comment on climate related articles on NewAtlas.
ChairmanLMAO February 11, 2021 03:03 PM
Know what else is getting longer and more annoying? COVID!! Who knew THAT had anything to do with climate change?
Catweazle February 12, 2021 06:29 AM
There is no such thing as a "climate denier" akarp, no-one denies the climate changes, it always has and will continue to do so while the Earth retains its atmosphere.
The correct term is "anthropogenic Global Warming sceptics", mankind has no more capability of *significantly* changing the Earth's climate than *significantly* changing the time the Sun rises and sets.