ALMOST BEEKEEPING - RELATED TOPICS > FARMING & COUNTRY LIFE

Not all pollen is the same

(1/6) > >>

max2:


Climate change has led to a sharp rise in the number of people suffering from hay fever in Switzerland. A hundred years ago hay fever was largely unknown in Switzerland, but today it affects around one in five people in Switzerland.
This content was published on May 14, 2024 - 10:05
3 minutes
Keystone-SDA

Climate change has led to many allergy-causing plants releasing their pollen earlier and with greater intensity, according to a factsheet published by the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) on Tuesday. Climate change also favours the spread of invasive, highly allergenic plants such as ragweed.

Air pollution could also have contributed to the spread of hay fever. According to the researchers, plants stressed by poor air quality appear to produce pollen that triggers stronger allergic reactions. Air pollution can also damage people?s airways, which promotes asthma and hay fever.

+ Landmark ruling: Switzerland?s climate policy violates human rights

According to the factsheet, an estimated 0.8% of the population were allergic to pollen in 1926. Today, it is estimated that around 20% of people in Switzerland are affected. The increase in the frequency of allergies is therefore a global phenomenon.

In addition to the impact on the quality of life of those affected, this also has economic consequences: ?In Switzerland, it is estimated that they amount to between CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) and CHF4 billion a year,? the factsheet says. This includes both direct costs for medication or hospitalisation as well as indirect costs due to reduced productivity and missed school and workdays.

+ City dwellers more likely to suffer from hay fever

The factsheet was compiled by researchers from the Swiss Commission for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, SCNAT and the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology (MeteoSwiss).

The researchers propose a series of measures to combat this. These include limiting climate change and air pollution, combating invasive species, appropriate planting in communities and a warning system.

Ben Framed:
A hundred years ago hay fever was largely unknown as such, not only in Switzerland, but in most every other country in the world. Back then the sufferers thought they had what was known as the common cold. Thanks to modern medicine which has identified hay fever for what it really is. A pollen related allergy in many cases.

The field of allergy was largely initiated in the United States by Dr. Robert Cooke and Dr. Arthur Coca, who started the first allergy clinic at Cornell University in New York. Cooke, who standardized allergy skin testing procedures and popularized allergy immunotherapy, trained Dr. Harry Alexander, who set up the first allergy clinic in the Midwest at the former Jewish Hospital and began training physicians in the sub-specialty of allergy. At the same time, Dr. Richard Eyermann followed by Dr. Stanley Hampton started an asthma clinic at Washington University School of Medicine.

This is where our friend the honeybee comes to the rescue! And why many Medical Allergist recommend pollen related hay fever suffers to ingest local honey and honey bee pollen.

BeeMaster2:
Yes, allergies are way up. When I was growing up I didn?t know anyone who had peanut allergies or any of the other allergies that people now have. When my generation was old enough to crawl we were playing in the dirt. There have been several studies done that show that dirt has things in it that help keep you healthy, especially when you?re young. Now a days most kids hardly ever play outside let a lone play in the dirt. I strongly suspect this has more to do with allergies than pollen that has been here for millions of years.
According to this article, in Switzerland the plants are producing a lot more pollen than in years past. Doesn?t that mean that plants are doing much better in the warmer climate that we are experiencing?
I don?t know about Switzerland but I do know that the air pollution here in the US is ten times better than it was when I was a child and into adulthood. When we drove into or near almost any city in this country you could see a dome of haze over them. It was really bad and it was not healthy. I have not seen domes over any cities in this country in a long time.
Jim Altmiller

Terri Yaki:

--- Quote ---I do know that the air pollution here in the US is ten times better than it was when I was a child and I t adulthood. When we drove into or near almost any city in this country you could see a dome of haze over them. It was really bad and it was not healthy. I have not seen domes over any cities in this country in a long time.
--- End quote ---
Yes, we have moved all of that pollution to China and Taiwan.

Ben Framed:

--- Quote from: Terri Yaki on May 14, 2024, 08:52:41 am ---
--- Quote ---I do know that the air pollution here in the US is ten times better than it was when I was a child and I t adulthood. When we drove into or near almost any city in this country you could see a dome of haze over them. It was really bad and it was not healthy. I have not seen domes over any cities in this country in a long time.
--- End quote ---
Yes, we have moved all of that pollution to China and Taiwan.

--- End quote ---

Good point Terri; While many climate change gurus hail China, seemingly eager, giving them a hall pass.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page