The Connection Between Pollen and Climate Change

• NPG
• February 16, 2021
• NPG Commentary
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February 17, 2021

The Connection Between Pollen and Climate Change

The Affects of Human-Caused Climate Change on Allergy Season

Human-caused climate change is worsening pollen season in the United States. New research shows pollen season starting early, lasting longer, and with an increased amount of pollen. The new study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, discovered that air at higher temperatures and heightened levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere contributed significantly to the changes in pollen concentration and distribution. We all must recognize that increases in temperature and carbon dioxide levels are caused by a large and constantly growing population.

Assistant professor of biology at the University of Utah and lead author of the new study, William Anderegg, spoke to a USA Today reporter, saying: “The strong link between warmer weather and pollen seasons provides a crystal clear example of how climate change is already affecting people’s health across the U.S. Climate change is making pollen season worse across the U.S., and that has major implications for asthma, allergies and other respiratory health problems.”

KXAN Weather Blog explains the details of the study along with listing the results, noting: “The research focused on four pollen metrics at 60 North American pollen stations over the span of 28 years (1990-2018). Observed variables included total pollen count, pollen season start date, pollen season length and pollen count extremes. The results of the study showed there was an approximate 20% increase in Spring (February – May) and annual pollen counts, with the largest increase in Texas and the Midwest. The allergen with the most significant increase was tree pollen…Changes in season were also observed, with the average start date of pollen season coming 20 days earlier and lasting eight days longer.”

These findings are important because they show an increased pollen concentration over a longer period of time which result in an amplified allergy season. An article by NBC News further confirms the findings, quoting Dr. Fineman, past president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology – who was not part of the study but was asked for his input – saying: “Pollen really follows the temperature. There’s not a question.”

The study concluded, stating, “a clearly detectable and attributable fingerprint of human-caused climate on North American pollen loads provides a powerful example of how climate change is contributing to deleterious health impacts through worsening pollen seasons.” NPG believes each individual has a role to play to ensure that our environment and our atmosphere are protected from human-caused damage. By working together to slow, halt, and eventually reverse population growth, we can do our best to safeguard our health and the health of future generations. We all must do what we can to reduce the effects of climate change.

To read more about the environment and other population issues, please see our Forum paper series, notably:

Will Affluence Ruin the Environment?, by Edwin S. Rubenstein

The True Environmental Disaster – The Silence on Our Growing Overpopulation, by Michael G. Hanauer

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