What to know
Pollen is an airborne allergen. Climate change may increase pollen concentrations and extend pollen seasons, heightening health effects for more people.
Pollen and climate change
Pollen is an airborne allergen that can affect our health. Pollen grains are tiny “seeds” dispersed from flowering plants, trees, grass, and weeds. The amount and type of pollen in the air depends on the season and geographic region. Though pollen counts are typically higher during the warmer seasons, some plants pollinate year-round.
Climate change may cause shifts in precipitation, fewer frost days, warmer air temperatures, and increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). These changes can affect:
- the pollen season's start, end, and how long it lasts each year
- how much pollen plants create and how much is in the air
- how pollen affects our health (the "allergenicity" of pollen)
- how much pollen we're exposed to
- our risk of experiencing allergy symptoms
Increased pollen effects
Pollen exposure can trigger various allergic reactions, including symptoms of hay fever. Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, happens when allergens like pollen enter your body and your immune system wrongly sees them as threats. If you have allergic rhinitis, your body then responds to the allergen by releasing chemicals that can cause symptoms in the nose.
Allergic rhinitis symptoms vary seasonally or year-round, depending on the allergen, affecting up to 60 million people annually in the United States. Symptoms from allergic rhinitis include sneezing, runny nose, and congestion.
Allergic conjunctivitis
Pollen exposure can also trigger symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis is eye lining (conjunctiva) inflammation due to exposure to allergens like those in pollen. Up to 30% of the general population and 70% of allergic rhinitis patients experience allergic conjunctivitis. Symptoms from allergic conjunctivitis include red, watery, or itchy eyes.
Medical costs
Individuals with respiratory conditions like asthma may be more sensitive to pollen. Exposure to pollen is linked to asthma attacks and increased hospital admissions for respiratory issues. Higher pollen concentrations and longer pollen seasons can increase sensitivity to allergens, triggering asthma episodes and reducing productivity in work and school.
Rain and temperatures
Extreme rainfall and rising temperatures also can contribute to indoor air quality problems. For instance, they can trigger indoor mold growth, worsening respiratory conditions for those with asthma or mold allergies, challenging asthma control.
Resources
- Asthma – guidance on asthma symptoms, triggers, and management
- Asthma and Allergies in the Workplace – NIOSH resources on a variety of asthma- and allergy-related topics
- Asthma and Mold After a Hurricane – Information for Clinicians Helping Patients with Respiratory Conditions After a Hurricane or Other Tropical Storm
- Covid-19 and Seasonal Allergies – Frequently asked questions about Covid-19 and seasonal allergies
- Pollen and Your Health