Longer exposure, more pollen: climate change worsens allergies
The UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has found that a shifting climate has already begun altering the production and distribution of pollen and spores.
As winter frost thaws earlier and spring weather gets warmer, plants and trees flower earlier, extending the pollen season, numerous studies have shown.
Air pollution can also increase people's sensitivity to allergens, while invasive species are spreading into new regions and causing fresh waves of allergies.
More and more people, particularly in industrialised nations, have reported developing allergy symptoms in recent decades.
Around a quarter of adults in Europe suffer from airborne allergies, including severe asthma, while the proportion among children is 30 to 40 percent.
That figure is expected to rise to half of Europeans by 2050, according to the World Health Organization.
"We're in crisis because allergies are exploding," said Severine Fernandez, president of the French Allergists' Union.
Whereas previously an allergic person would endure only what is commonly known as hay fever, albeit sometimes for years, "now that person can become asthmatic after one or two years", Fernandez said.
'Irritant pollen'
Climate change affects allergy patients in multiple ways, according to a 2023 report by the WMO.
Rising levels of carbon dioxide, one of the main heat-trapping gases produced by burning fossil fuels, boost plant growth, in turn increasing pollen production.
Air pollution not only irritates the airways of people exposed, but it also causes stress to plants, which then produce more "allergenic and irritant pollen".
Nicolas Visez, an aerobiologist at the University of Lille, said each plant species reacted differently to a variety of factors such as water availability, temperature and CO2 concentrations.
Birch trees for example will wither as summers get hotter and drier, while the heat causes a proliferation of ragweed, a highly allergenic invasive plant.
"There's no doubt that climate change is having an effect," Visez said.
In a study published in 2017, researchers projected that ragweed allergies would more than double in Europe by 2041-2060 as a result of climate change, raising the number of people affected from 33 million to 77 million.
The authors suggested that higher pollen concentrations as well as longer pollen seasons could make symptoms more severe.
Allergy action
A Europe-wide "AutoPollen" programme under development aims to provide real-time data on the distribution of pollen and fungal spores.
In Switzerland, a tie-up with MeteoSwiss allows patients and doctors to match personal allergy profiles with maps of specific allergens throughout the country.
In parts of France, authorities have planted "pollinariums", gardens packed with the main local allergen species.
These provide information on the very first pollen released into the air so that people can start taking antihistamines and other protective measures in a timely manner.
"Hazelnuts have started to bloom as early as mid-December, which wasn't the case before," said Salome Pasquet, a botanist with the association behind the pollen gardens.
"That's really because we've had very mild winters, so flowering has come earlier," she said.
Some countries are taking an interventionist approach -- cutting off the pollen at the source.
In Japan, the government announced a plan in 2023 to combat allergies caused by the archipelago's many cedar trees, which includes felling cedars to replace them with species that produce less pollen.
Countries in Europe are also more mindful of species in the environment, both native ones that have been planted and invasive newcomers like ragweed.
Preference is given to species with a lower allergenic potential, such as maple or fruit trees.
"The idea is not to stop planting allergenic species," Pasquet said, but to be mindful of creating diversity and avoiding having "places where there are rows of birch trees, as was the case a few years ago".
It was birch trees in a client's garden that originally set off symptoms for Simon Barthelemy, an architect who lives near Paris.
"I had a major eye allergy, and it's been a recurring problem every year since," he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
2 hours ago
- Euronews
EU ministers propose international limits on sperm 'super donors'
A coalition of EU health ministers wants to set international limits on the number of children a single sperm or egg donor can produce, putting an end to the "super sperm donor" phenomenon. The proposal, in the form of an information note, was introduced in Luxembourg on Friday by Sweden and Belgium during a meeting of EU health ministers, and it is backed by four other countries: France, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Spain. While many European countries, including Sweden – one of the lead proponents – have national laws that cap the number of children per donor, no international regulations currently exist. Some commercial sperm and egg banks have set voluntary limits, such as 75 families per donor. However, others have no such restrictions. As a result, it's not uncommon for donor-conceived individuals to discover they have more than 100 genetic half-siblings, in stories that frequently attract public attention. A Dutch sperm donor suspected of fathering over 550 children worldwide and Telegram CEO Paul Durov, rumoured to be the biological father of more than 100 children through years of sperm donation, are some of the better-known examples. These and other similar cases raise "new concerns about the potential psychosocial impact on donor-conceived children and donors,' Swedish Health Minister Acko Ankarberg Johansson said. More recently, further calls were made to limit the number of donations after another Dutch donor whose sperm carried a rare cancer-related genetic variant was used to conceive at least 52 children, some of whom have been diagnosed with cancer. Call for a cross-border donor register Explaining their proposal, the ministers have argued that international action is needed not only due to ethical concerns but also because of demographic trends, including declining fertility rates and delayed family planning. These trends have compelled many EU countries to increasingly rely on commercial gamete banks that operate internationally, making it harder to enforce donor limits. Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said that international limits would only be practical if supported by a comprehensive cross-border donor register. 'We badly need a Europe-wide quota supported by an EU register to ensure proper implementation,' he said. 'It is unacceptable that children or parents have to discover through genetic testing that they could have 70 or more half-siblings across Europe or even globally. That is unethical and a risk factor,' he continued. While several member states support the initiative, the European Commission is, for now, proceeding cautiously. Proponents have called for an update to the EU regulation on substances of human origin. However, this legislation was revised only recently, in June 2024. Speaking at the meeting, the European Commission's top health official, Director-General for Health and Food Safety Sandra Gallina, called the issue a recurrent concern for member states and patients. She pointed out, however, that regulating donor offspring numbers falls mainly under national jurisdiction, as the EU's mandate in this area is limited to safety and quality standards. 'The EU can help raise awareness among in-vitro fecundation professionals about national donor limits,' Gallina explained. She also announced that the Commission would respond to Sweden and Belgium's request by organising a discussion involving national authorities and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), the continent's main professional body in the field.
Sustainability Times
3 hours ago
- Sustainability Times
'Light from Absolute Nothingness': Scientists Achieve Historic First by Creating Photons in a Virtual Quantum Vacuum
IN A NUTSHELL 🌟 Scientists at the University of Oxford simulated light creation from nothing by disturbing the quantum vacuum with intense lasers. at the University of Oxford simulated light creation from nothing by disturbing the with intense lasers. 💡 The study demonstrates how virtual particles in empty space can interact with laser energy to form new light waves . . 🔬 Advanced simulations using the OSIRIS program revealed the potential to explore high-energy physics beyond the Standard Model. beyond the Standard Model. 🌌 This research challenges traditional notions of emptiness and could lead to breakthroughs in light manipulation and advanced laser technology. In a groundbreaking achievement, scientists at the University of Oxford have simulated the creation of light from nothing, challenging our understanding of the universe. Utilizing powerful computer simulations, they have demonstrated how intense laser beams can disturb the quantum vacuum, leading to the emergence of light without any physical matter. This fascinating discovery taps into the strange predictions of quantum physics, suggesting that empty space is far from empty. Instead, it's a realm filled with invisible energy fluctuations and virtual particles. This research has significant implications for high-energy physics and advanced laser systems, potentially altering our fundamental understanding of reality. Making Light from Nothing To grasp this remarkable achievement, one must first reconsider the concept of a vacuum. In classical physics, a vacuum is an empty space devoid of air, particles, or light. However, quantum physics paints a different picture. It suggests that even the emptiest space is teeming with fleeting virtual particles, particularly pairs of electrons and positrons that appear and vanish in mere moments. According to the study authors, 'the quantum vacuum is filled with energy fluctuations from which virtual electron-positron pairs arise.' These virtual particles usually remain unseen but can interact with real energy under specific conditions. The researchers aimed to simulate this interaction using a high-powered program called OSIRIS, which functions as a virtual laboratory where quantum physics rules are meticulously played out. Their objective was to recreate a theoretical phenomenon known as vacuum four-wave mixing. In this process, multiple laser beams crisscrossing in a vacuum can polarize the virtual particles, allowing the beams to mix and generate new light waves. Remarkably, this occurs without adding any material, as if new light is born from a field of invisible, flickering particles. 'Thousands of Eggs Discovered Alive': Underwater Volcano Reveals Massive Alien-Like Cluster That Leaves Marine Biologists Speechless Emptiness Might Explain Many Mysterious Concepts If the current research is successfully replicated in physical experiments, it could provide insights into physics beyond the Standard Model, including the nature of dark energy, the structure of spacetime, and interactions between light and matter at extreme energies. This research might even pave the way for technologies that control light with unprecedented precision. However, the quantum effects simulated in this study are incredibly delicate and challenging to observe in a noisy laboratory environment. Moreover, the powerful lasers involved could vaporize most materials, necessitating careful planning before conducting physical experiments. Simulations like this are invaluable as they help scientists determine the precise conditions required for such experiments before investing in costly, high-risk endeavors. The researchers now plan to apply their virtual approach to explore more exotic pulse shapes and laser beam patterns, using their simulations as a roadmap for future experiments. Ultimately, this research may help us transform the void of space into something tangible, beginning with a simple beam of light. The findings of this study are published in the journal Communications Physics. 'Confirmed for the First Time': Scientists Turn Light Into a Never-Before-Seen Solid With Reality-Bending Quantum Properties The Role of Advanced Simulations Advanced simulations have become crucial tools in modern scientific research, enabling scientists to explore phenomena that are currently beyond our experimental capabilities. In this study, the OSIRIS program allowed researchers to conduct detailed 3D simulations, providing insights into the behavior of virtual particles under extreme conditions. By simulating the effects of petawatt-level lasers, the team demonstrated how laser beams could interact with the quantum vacuum, leading to the creation of new light. These simulations not only offer a glimpse into the potential future of high-energy physics but also highlight the importance of computational models in advancing our understanding of complex scientific concepts. As technology continues to evolve, simulations will likely play an increasingly vital role in scientific discovery, helping researchers push the boundaries of what is possible and explore the mysteries of the universe. 'Super-Earth Could Host Life': Stunning New Planet Found in Habitable Zone Ignites Hopes of a Second Earth Beyond Our Solar System Implications for Future Research The successful simulation of light emerging from nothing opens new avenues for future research in quantum physics and beyond. This discovery challenges traditional notions of emptiness and suggests that the quantum vacuum is a dynamic realm filled with untapped potential. As scientists continue to explore the intricacies of the quantum vacuum, they may uncover new ways to manipulate light and energy, leading to breakthroughs in high-energy physics and advanced laser technology. Moreover, this research could inspire new theories about the fundamental nature of reality, prompting scientists to reevaluate existing models and explore uncharted territories in physics. As we push the boundaries of our understanding, the possibilities for innovation and discovery are boundless. How will these new insights into the quantum vacuum shape the future of science and technology, and what other hidden wonders might we uncover in the vast expanse of space? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (29)
Euronews
4 hours ago
- Euronews
Summer swimming: Most of Europe's waters safe to bathe in, report says
From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, Europeans can swim safely in most of Europe's waters, according to the latest EU bathing water assessment released on Friday. Over 85 per cent of the sites tested met the EU's strictest 'excellent' bathing water quality standards according to data last year, while 96 per cent of all officially recognised bathing waters in the EU met the minimum quality standards. The assessment and interactive map, produced by the European Environment Agency (EEA) in partnership with the European Commission, highlights where swimmers can find well-managed bathing sites in Europe. The assessment tests the suitability of waters for bathing, focusing on monitoring bacteria that can cause potentially serious illness. In total, over 22,000 bathing water sites were assessed in all 27 EU Member States, as well as in Albania and Switzerland. In five countries - Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Austria, and Croatia - 95 per cent or more of the bathing waters were marked as being excellent quality bathing waters. Only 1.5 per cent of EU bathing waters were found to be of poor quality. The quality of coastal bathing waters is generally better than that of rivers and lakes. In 2024, around 89 per cent of EU coastal bathing waters were classified as excellent, compared to 78 per cent of inland bathing waters. From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, most of Europe's bathing waters are of excellent bathing quality when assessed against the parameters (Escherichia coli [E. coli] and enterococci) required by the Water and Waste Water Directive (BWD). Bathing water quality in Europe has improved significantly over the last decades. This is due to a drastic reduction of organic pollutants and pathogens previously released in untreated or partially treated municipal wastewater. These improvements have occurred as a result of the combined effects: - The systematic monitoring and management introduced under the Water and Waste Water Directive. - The major investments in urban waste water treatment plants; - the large investments in urban waste water treatment plants. - Improvements in wastewater networks. Thanks to these ongoing efforts, swimming is now possible in urban and once very polluted waters. BWD focuses on monitoring E. coli and enterococci, important indicators of faecal contamination, which poses a risk to human health due to the potential presence of pathogens. In addition, toxic cyanobacterial blooms, although not subject to the quantitative monitoring prescribed by the BWD, often lead to anti-bathing advisories. However, chemicals are also present in the water. Water quality is monitored and assessed under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) (EU, 2000). The report found there is still significant pollution of surface and groundwater, which are not captured by bathing water monitoring, even when they exceed legal limits set to prevent harm to the environment. As the conflict between Israel and Iran intensifies, air strikes on Iran's nuclear sites could have serious health consequences across the region. Monitoring groups have not yet documented any such impact. On Monday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, said it had not identified radiation leaks as a result of Israeli strikes that began Friday and have killed hundreds of people in Iran. But that could change quickly as the attacks continue. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday that he is worried about 'the targeting of nuclear sites, which may have immediate and long-term impacts on the environment and health of people in Iran and across the region'. Not all strikes on nuclear facilities would be the same, and an Israeli military official has said their forces plan to minimise the risk of a nuclear disaster and the consequences for civilians. 'There are gradients of risk,' Simon Bennett, who leads the civil safety and security unit at the University of Leicester in the UK and wrote a book on wartime risks to nuclear facilities, told Euronews Health. A successful attack on a live nuclear reactor would be the most devastating to human health, spreading radioactive materials that could endanger people hundreds of kilometres away. But Iran's only commercial nuclear power plant, the Bushehr plant, has not been targeted or affected by the recent attacks, according to the IAEA. Israel has targeted three key nuclear facilities: Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordo. The sites use centrifuges to enrich uranium gas, which produces the fuel that powers civilian nuclear reactors. These centrifuges would also be central to an Iranian effort to develop nuclear weapons, which European Union officials have said must not happen. Israeli strikes fully destroyed the above-ground plant at the Natanz facility, which is more than 100 miles from Tehran. The attacks also severely damaged the site's below-ground operations, which contain its centrifuges. According to the IAEA's director general Rafael Mariano Grossi, there is both 'radiological and chemical contamination' inside the Natanz facility. During an emergency meeting on Monday, Grossi said uranium isotopes may have spread within the facility. Such a leak would consist primarily of alpha particles and would pose a 'significant danger if uranium is inhaled or ingested'. Those dangers include a higher risk of cancer and damage to the kidneys, lungs, and bones. 'However, this risk can be effectively managed with appropriate protective measures, such as using respiratory protection devices while inside the affected facilities,' Grossi added. The level of radioactivity surrounding the site, meanwhile, 'has remained unchanged and at normal levels, indicating no external radiological impact to the population or the environment from this event,' Grossi said. Israel also hit a nuclear research facility in Isfahan on Friday, the IAEA said, damaging four buildings, including a uranium conversion plant. But there has been no sign of increased radiation there. Israel has been eyeing an attack on the secretive Fordo fuel enrichment site, which is where many analysts believe Iran has been working on its nuclear weapons capabilities. The site, built clandestinely, was first publicly acknowledged in 2009. Fordo is buried deep in the mountains of northern Iran, and US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering dropping a bunker-busting bomb to destroy the heavily fortified facility. The site's location deep below ground means that in the immediate aftermath, 'the likelihood of significant contamination [in the surrounding region] is significantly reduced, if not zero,' Bennett said. Over time, though, radioactive isotopes would be 'leaching into the groundwater,' he added. That means it will be critical that Iran allows the IAEA into the country to help manage any leaks – similarly to how the agency assists at the Chernobyl site in Ukraine, decommissioning and managing radioactive waste, Bennett said. It's not yet clear whether Iran will do so. One week into the conflict, it is still escalating. 'At this point, given the fog of war… everything is conjecture,' Bennett said.
