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Hamilton Spectator
03-06-2025
- Climate
- Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton allergy season primed to take off as warm and dry weather approaches
After a slightly delayed start, Hamilton's allergy season is now well underway. 'There's a direct correlation between pollen counts and weather. Pollen loves warm weather,' said Daniel Coates of Aerobiology Research Laboratories, the country's leading pollen monitoring lab. A harsh and snowy winter spelled a later — but still early by historical standards — launch for this year's allergy season, with pollen first recorded in Hamilton on March 11 compared to Feb. 28 in 2024, according to data provided by the Ottawa-based lab. Cooler temperatures in early April and parts of May stalled the season's momentum, creating what Coates likened to a bottleneck effect. He said cold snaps cause pollen to either stop releasing or to release at very low levels. But when the weather suddenly warms — like it did in mid-April — 'we see an explosion of pollen,' Coates said. 'It starts to release over a shorter period of time but at heightened levels.' Among the top culprits this spring are birch, alder, oak, walnut and butternut trees. 'And pine, that yellow dust you see on your car or patio furniture? It's really taking off,' Coates said. 'In the last few weeks, it's been rising to moderate levels, but it's about to hit high and very high levels.' Despite the late start, Hamilton has recorded 33,001 grains of pollen per cubic metre so far this year, compared to the 26,330 grains per cubic metre received over the same period in 2024, according to Coates. And while day-to-day pollen levels fluctuate, Coates said the longer-term trends are clear: Hamilton is getting more pollen, and more of it landing earlier. The same can be said for Canada as a whole. 'Back in 2020, we saw just under 500,000 grains of pollen per cubic metres across Canada. In 2024, it was up close to one million,' Coates said. 'Pollen is like a business; it goes up and down. But if you look at the trend line over the last five years, it's only going one way.' 'As we get into the warmer spring and summer months, it promises to be an active pollen season with high counts,' added Dr. Mariam Hanna, an allergy and asthma specialist at McMaster University who also runs a pediatric clinic in Burlington. Hanna said her clinic still saw patients coming in with bad allergies despite the cool start spring. People should anticipate stronger allergy symptoms as the weather becomes dryer and warmer, she added — especially those who've already experienced them. 'If you were having allergy problems earlier, you might notice it a lot more now as we get into warm days with wind blowing around all the pollen.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CBC
20-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Intense levels of tree pollen mean heightened symptoms for allergy sufferers in Hamilton, researcher warns
Allergy sufferers in Hamilton will likely experience heightened symptoms in the coming weeks as warmer weather causes the release of more tree pollen, according to the head of a pollen research lab in Ontario. Daniel Coates, director of Ottawa-based Aerobiology Research Laboratories (ARL), said the arrival of warmer weather in Hamilton is triggering a rise in highly allergenic pollen types such as birch, oak and poplar, bringing "higher levels of pollen in a shorter period of time." "We had a really warm spell at the end of March and that signalled Mother Nature to start releasing pollen, but then it cools down a lot and the pollen stops releasing, it just went to more low levels," Coates told CBC Hamilton. "As it started heating up again in late April, we started seeing more intense levels of tree pollen in the air with higher numbers. So, instead of releasing over a longer period of time, it decides to release at a shorter period of time with higher levels." Coates said Hamilton is also currently experiencing a period of very high levels of mulberry, walnut and pine in the air. 'The GTA is ragweed heaven' He said "the tree season is quite long," lasting anywhere from mid-to-late March to late May or early June in the Hamilton area. Allergy sufferers also have to contend with grass season and weed season, which runs through mid-August, Coates said. "We have ragweed that will start in mid-to-late July and the GTA [Greater Toronto Area] is ragweed heaven," Coates said. Ragweed is highly allergenic and pollen levels are higher in the GTA than anywhere else in Canada, he said. By knowing what's in the air, you can better change your daily activities to minimize the effects of pollen on your health. - Daniel Coates, director, Aerobiology Research Laboratories While forecasters don't suspect it will be "apocalyptic," Coates said they do expect a lot of ragweed, which likes warm weather. There are more than 10 million allergy sufferers in Canada, representing almost 25 per cent of the population, Coates said, but they aren't condemned to feel the worst symptoms each allergy season. "By knowing what's in the air, you can better change your daily activities to minimize the effects of pollen on your health, and that will help create a better quality of life," Coates added. Through its network of 30 "strategically located stations across Canada," ARL says it meticulously gathers daily air samples, ensuring the most precise and dependable allergen information for Canadian allergy sufferers and the research community. Symptoms can go on for months Mariam Hanna, an assistant clinical professor in the department of pediatrics at McMaster University, says pollen allergy symptoms include itchy, watery, red eyes, as well as runny nose, nasal congestion and sneezing. She says they can cause long periods of suffering. "For patients with environmental allergies … it's typical for their symptoms to last for weeks, and if you're allergic to multiple pollen or spores, this can go on for months," Hanna told CBC News. She said environmental allergies can impact any age group, from young children all the way up to adults, "so people of all ages may be experiencing symptoms, and at least one in each household of four or more people might have symptoms at this time of year." Finding the right answer for your symptoms Hanna, who is also an allergist and immunologist, said there are many different options for people to manage their environmental allergies, including many over-the-counter options. "The general categories include things like antihistamines, nasal sprays, as well as eye drops," she said. "My recommendation is always to speak with your health-care provider to help you find the right answer for your symptoms." she said. While environmental allergies are not life-threatening, Hanna said they can impact your quality of life — potentially disrupting sleep, school, the ability to function at work, and one's ability to go out during the warmer summer months. "In some patients with environmental allergies, this can impact up to 40 per cent of them and cause some degree of asthma symptoms to flare up during this time," Hanna said. "So, for those patients, they might have more coughing, wheezing, and asthma flare ups that may lead them to go to the hospital. In that sense, that can be a major health concern."
CTV News
01-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
‘Increased discomfort': Laboratory predicts ‘intense' allergy season for Toronto
Allergy sufferers in Toronto got a brief break from their seasonal sneezing and itchy eyes this year thanks a recent spell of cool weather. But one laboratory says as warmer temperatures make a comeback this month, so too will their symptoms. Ottawa-based Aerobiology Research Laboratories (ARL) said southern Ontario's mild weather in March and April brought with it early pollen to start the spring. Now, after a period of cooler conditions leading into May, the mercury is set to rise again and give way to a 'significant' increase in highly allergenic pollen, that could lead to 'increased discomfort' and an 'intense' allergy season for some. 'Now it's heating up. And so what we're seeing is pollens were sort of delayed. They had a bit of a start, and then they said, 'Oh no, it's cold. I'm going to go dormant.' And then they started up again. And now we're getting into some of the really bad pollen types, like birch - which is highly allergenic - ash and oak,' ARL director Daniel Coates told CTV News Toronto in an interview. 'By the weekend, it's going to be a very high level for birch and ash…and then oak is starting to rise as well, and that's extremely allergenic for people.' Coates said that while most of May is likely going to be 'really bad' for allergy sufferers, he stopped short of prognosticating a 'pollen apocalypse' for the months ahead. 'We're predicting more of an average season. So yes, it will be bad, but it won't be catastrophic, per se,' he said. Beyond this month, Coates said 'tree season' usually drops off by mid to late June, before grass and weed seasons set in during the summer, the latter of which he described as 'horrible' in Toronto due to the large presence of ragweed. Although ARL has 30 collection sites across Canada, including one in downtown Toronto, which it uses to collect air samples and make its forecasts, Coates admits it has becoming increasingly difficult to determine exactly when the pollen seasons will start and end due, in part, to climate change. At the same time, and much to the dismay of allergy sufferers, he said the volume of pollen in Canada has jumped from 500,000 grains in the late '90s to just under one million grains today. 'Pollen is like a business, you know, it has its ups and downs, ups and downs. But, like a business, you look at trend lines, and trend lines show that we've almost doubled our pollen grains nationally over the last 25 years.' Tips to mitigate your seasonal allergies Coates offered up a handful of tips to combat your seasonal allergies this spring and summer. Talk to an allergist Coates said, if you suffer from allergies, it's important to find out what pollen you're having a reaction to. 'You feel like you have a cold 24/7, but you don't know what you're allergic to. Find out what you're allergic to, and then you can better prepare programs that will actually help you to minimize the health effects of the pollen on your health.' Check the forecast Once you know what type of pollen you're sensitive to, Coates said it's a good practice to check when it's in the air. 'That way you can adjust your schedule. So, if you know you're allergic to birch and it's a high day today, don't run outside – run on a track,' he said, adding that you can check the daily pollen forecast on the ARL website. Don't let the outdoors in Once you're back indoors, Coates said there are a few other tweaks you can make to keep pollen outside, including keeping pets off the bed and taking your shoes off outdoors.
CBC
28-02-2025
- Health
- CBC
Intense pollen season to begin in southwest B.C. this weekend, expert warns
Get your tissues and allergy medicines ready if you live in southwestern British Columbia, where an expert predicts an intense pollen season is on the way. Cold weather had held the pollen count at bay until recently, but an Ontario-based lab that monitors airborne pollen levels with a network of 30 stations across Canada said its latest report shows Vancouver, Burnaby and Victoria will all experience a significant spike in pollen starting this weekend and in the weeks ahead. Daniel Coates, the director of Ottawa-based Aerobiology Research Laboratories, said he's confident in the forecast. Colder temperatures have delayed the start of pollen season in southwestern B.C., which can begin as soon as late January, Coates said. "Because it's getting warmer, we're going to see quite high levels of cedar this weekend, which is stereotypically the start of the pollen season." High levels of alder, hazel and elm It's the warmth that triggers a "rapid increase" in airborne allergens. Unlike other provinces, B.C. has several varieties of cedars, including Western red, yellow and Alaska yellow cedars, Coates said. Cedar pollen is going to be at "very high" levels starting this weekend and through to Monday. Then, in the next week or two, alder, hazel and elm will also be at high levels. WATCH | Why we're seeing earlier allergy seasons: Yes, seasonal allergies are arriving earlier 11 months ago Duration 2:02 Coates said alder, hazel and elm are quite allergenic pollen types that can cause symptoms like a stuffy nose, coughing or sneezing. It's a late start for pollen season in B.C. this year, but as usual it's still earlier than the rest of the country, which typically doesn't see allergy troubles starting until mid- to late March. Coates said his lab has been making pollen forecasts since 1992, measuring the number of grains per cubic metre of air. He said the lab's data shows overall pollen levels in Canada have increased over the past 30 years, with a more prolonged pollen season due to climate change. "It's mainly because with warmer seasons, [there's] more pollen production." Coates said many of his technicians are passionate about pollen because they suffer from allergies themselves. No cure for pollen allergies There is no cure for pollen allergies. Coates said the best way to minimize the effects is to clean nasal passages with water, wear sunglasses outdoors to keep pollen out of eyes, and avoid letting dogs sleep in bed because they bring pollen in with them. Although southwestern B.C. is about to get hit hard, Coates said it could be worse. "You guys are lucky over in British Columbia, and you don't get the worst pollen type, which is ragweed," said Coates. He said that in addition to the usual symptoms, ragweed pollen causes headaches as well.
