Global Warming Causes Earlier Pollen Season
2021-02-16
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1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
2When Dr. Stanley Fineman started as an allergist, he told patients to start taking medications and prepare for pollen season in the middle of March.
3That was about 40 years ago.
4Today, he tells them to start around the middle of February.
5Since 1990, pollen season across the United States and Canada has been starting earlier, about 20 days earlier.
6And pollen loads, the amount of pollen released by plants, are 21 percent higher.
7The main reason for this, a new study found, is global warming.
8Other studies have shown North America's allergy season getting longer and worse.
9But this one, published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences, has the most complete information coming from 60 reporting stations.
10It is also the first study to make scientific connections between an earlier and more intense pollen season with human-caused climate change.
11The study says the warmer the Earth gets, the earlier spring starts for animals and plants, especially plants that release pollen.
12Additionally, trees and plants produce more pollen when they get carbon dioxide.
13Bill Anderegg is the lead writer of the study.
14He said, "climate change is here and it's in every breath we take."
15The University of Utah scientist told the Associated Press (AP), "This is clearly warming temperatures and more carbon dioxide putting more pollen in the air."
16Scientists are not sure why trees are giving off the allergy-causing particles earlier than grasses.
17But Anderegg said just look at cherry blossoms opening earlier in Japan and Washington, D.C. as an example.
18Scientists involved in the study also considered that parks and cities were getting greener.
19They also compared what is happening now in our environment to computer models of an Earth without human-caused warming and rising carbon dioxide in the air.
20Since 1990, about half of the earlier pollen season was linked to climate change - mostly from warmer temperatures.
21But plant-feeding carbon dioxide, Anderegg said, played a part.
22However, since the 2000s, he said, about 65 percent of early pollen seasons can be blamed on warming.
23And about 8 percent of the increased pollen load can be blamed on climate change.
24Chris Downs of St. Louis, Missouri does not need a study to show that he already has problems with breathing, headaches, and red itchy eyes.
25His allergies usually hit in March.
26But the last two years, they came in early February, along with blooms of trees and flowers.
27"As a kid I never saw anything start blooming in February," Downs said, "Now I see a handful of years like that."
28For Amir Sapkota, this is not just a matter of sneezing and watery eyes.
29There are more serious health concerns.
30The University of Maryland scientist said the pollen is a risk for other diseases including asthma.
31She told the AP, "Asthma costs the U.S. economy an estimated $80 billion per year in terms of treatment and loss of productivity."
32So, a longer pollen season is a threat to both "individuals suffering from allergies as well as the U.S. economy."
33There are other problems as well.
34Sapkota recently found a connection between earlier spring allergies and an increased risk in asthma hospitalizations.
35Another study, Anderegg said, found that students do worse on tests because of pollen levels.
36The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has some advice on how to protect yourself against pollen:
37Take your allergy and/or asthma medications as advised by your health care provider.
38Do not touch your eyes while you are outside.
39Wash after being outside to remove pollen from your skin and hair.
40Change your clothes after being outdoors.
41Keep windows closed during pollen season.
42And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo.
1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. 2When Dr. Stanley Fineman started as an allergist, he told patients to start taking medications and prepare for pollen season in the middle of March. 3That was about 40 years ago. Today, he tells them to start around the middle of February. 4Since 1990, pollen season across the United States and Canada has been starting earlier, about 20 days earlier. And pollen loads, the amount of pollen released by plants, are 21 percent higher. 5The main reason for this, a new study found, is global warming. 6Other studies have shown North America's allergy season getting longer and worse. But this one, published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences, has the most complete information coming from 60 reporting stations. It is also the first study to make scientific connections between an earlier and more intense pollen season with human-caused climate change. 7The study says the warmer the Earth gets, the earlier spring starts for animals and plants, especially plants that release pollen. Additionally, trees and plants produce more pollen when they get carbon dioxide. 8Bill Anderegg is the lead writer of the study. He said, "climate change is here and it's in every breath we take." The University of Utah scientist told the Associated Press (AP), "This is clearly warming temperatures and more carbon dioxide putting more pollen in the air." 9Scientists are not sure why trees are giving off the allergy-causing particles earlier than grasses. But Anderegg said just look at cherry blossoms opening earlier in Japan and Washington, D.C. as an example. 10Scientists involved in the study also considered that parks and cities were getting greener. They also compared what is happening now in our environment to computer models of an Earth without human-caused warming and rising carbon dioxide in the air. 11Since 1990, about half of the earlier pollen season was linked to climate change - mostly from warmer temperatures. But plant-feeding carbon dioxide, Anderegg said, played a part. 12However, since the 2000s, he said, about 65 percent of early pollen seasons can be blamed on warming. And about 8 percent of the increased pollen load can be blamed on climate change. 13Chris Downs of St. Louis, Missouri does not need a study to show that he already has problems with breathing, headaches, and red itchy eyes. His allergies usually hit in March. But the last two years, they came in early February, along with blooms of trees and flowers. 14"As a kid I never saw anything start blooming in February," Downs said, "Now I see a handful of years like that." 15For Amir Sapkota, this is not just a matter of sneezing and watery eyes. There are more serious health concerns. The University of Maryland scientist said the pollen is a risk for other diseases including asthma. 16She told the AP, "Asthma costs the U.S. economy an estimated $80 billion per year in terms of treatment and loss of productivity." So, a longer pollen season is a threat to both "individuals suffering from allergies as well as the U.S. economy." 17There are other problems as well. Sapkota recently found a connection between earlier spring allergies and an increased risk in asthma hospitalizations. Another study, Anderegg said, found that students do worse on tests because of pollen levels. 18The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has some advice on how to protect yourself against pollen: 19Take your allergy and/or asthma medications as advised by your health care provider. 20Do not touch your eyes while you are outside. 21Wash after being outside to remove pollen from your skin and hair. 22Change your clothes after being outdoors. 23Keep windows closed during pollen season. 24And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo. 25Seth Borenstein reported this story for the Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. 26_______________________________________________________________ 27Words in This Story 28allergy - n. a medical condition that causes someone to become sick after eating, touching, or breathing something that is harmless to most people 29allergist - n. a specialist in allergy 30pollen - n. the very fine usually yellow dust that is produced by a plant and that is carried to other plants of the same kind usually by wind or insects so that the plants can produce seeds 31carbon dioxide - n. a gas that is produced when people and animals breathe out or when certain fuels are burned and that is used by plants for energy 32bloom - n. the flowering state 33sneeze - v. to suddenly force air out through your nose and mouth with a usually loud noise because your body is reacting to dust, a sickness, etc. 34asthma - n. medical : a physical condition that makes it difficult for someone to breathe