A study has measured the impact of climate change on allergies: they last longer and the pollens that cause them are spreading over increasingly large geographical areas.
- Only rain can bring relief to people who suffer from grass pollen allergies when they are embarrassed.
- Symptoms of pollen allergies can be serial sneezing, asthma attacks, red itchy or watery eyes, etc.
In France, 20% of children over the age of 9 and 30% of adults suffer from pollen allergies, according to a press release from Stallergenes-Greer France. In this document, the final results of a study are published. This deals with the impact of climate change in France on pollens and on the environment in which people with allergies live. This work was carried out with the innovation subsidiary of the National Aerobiological Surveillance Network (RNSA).
Increased duration of allergies
First lesson: people allergic to grass pollen are now bothered from April to September, while the season takes place in June.
“Allergies to pollen are still seasonal allergies today, unlike allergies to dust mites or animal dander, but we can expect, in the years to come, potentially longer and more intense allergic seasons”explains Dominique Pezziardi, Managing Director of Stallergenes-Greer.
More pollen in the air due to climate change
The study then tells us that the use of cupressaceae as ornamental plants – mainly for decoration – and global warming increase the presence of these plants – and therefore of their pollen – on French soil, especially between Perpignan and Nice. .
“The increase in the quantities of pollen, linked to the variability of the seasons and climate change, in addition to favoring the exposure of people who are already allergic, leads us to believe that there will be more and more people who will develop a sensitivity. and will probably become allergic”, explains Dominique Pezziardi.
Climate change extends birch pollen zones
Finally, the last lesson of this study: the geographical area of birch pollen (for cypress or ragweed) is expanding more and more due to climate change. In other words, there are more regions affected by these pollens. A observation already made by Samuel Monnierspokesperson for the National Aerobiological Surveillance Network (RNSA) when the publication of the pollen allergy card in June : “In 30 years, it has already been observed that the quantities of birch pollen have increased by more than 20%“.
The prevalence of respiratory allergies, meanwhile, has tripled in 30 years according to the press release from Stallergenes-Greer France. “The variability of the seasons implies a greater difficulty for the management (people who suffer from pollen) because it is difficult to predict when the pollen will appear: we cannot therefore always predict the seasons and know when it is appropriate to treat, concludes Dominique Pezziardi. The management is all the more complex as the patient profiles also have a significant diversity.“Allergies will certainly be an increasingly important health issue in the future.