There is a growing possibility that hayfever sufferers may begin to show their symptoms earlier than usual. This seems to be directly associated with the fluctuations in climatic conditions brought about by climate change.
Early hayfever is mostly triggered by pollen from trees and then further into spring and early summer, by flowering plants, predominately grasses. Pollen from these sources is light, prolific and windborne. Normally hay fever symptoms related to tree pollen, some 25% of all cases, begin sometime in late March, for most sufferers, with the release of Birch pollen. This is soon followed by, Oak and other tree pollens at the beginning of April.
Sunshine, rainfall, wind speed and direction are some of the most important factors, which govern the release and intensity of pollen levels and subsequently the levels of symptoms experienced by sufferers. It is now also widely accepted that enhanced levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, most likely the result of the burning of fossil fuels, is beginning to alter the global climate. The resulting milder, wetter and windier winters followed by drier, hotter summers are having an effect.
Recent work by Dr. Mathew Smith from the National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit (NPARU), part of the Institute of Health, Social Care and Psychology, has shown some interesting results.
A major aspect of NPARU’s work, through the National Pollen Network, has concentrated on looking at pollen seasons within Europe and how they have responded to changes in climate and the effect therefore on hay fever sufferers.
Already there is good evidence to show that pollen, particularly from Alder, Yew and Hazel is being released several days, even up to two weeks, earlier.
Indeed, anecdotal reports from central Europe, especially Germany, suggest that in those areas of hazel/oak woodland people are reporting symptoms as early as mid February. Other phenological studies, those that collate and record the timing of natural events, also strongly suggest that spring is arriving earlier. In fact a recent report in the journal Global Change Biology, which looked at 125,000 studies from 17 countries and 561 species concluded that spring was beginning almost a week earlier than thirty years ago.
There is now no doubt that the early on-set of the symptoms of hay fever are here to stay, alonq with Hayfever treatments that offer relief to this lengthened season.
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