Climate change can exacerbate Canada’s allergic season, but the solution is within reach

Canadians need to anticipate a more severe and broader allergic season this spring and in the coming years, as climate change raises temperatures and overproduces pollen-producing plants.

In 2021, scientists 21 percent increase in pollen levels Throughout North America between 1990 and 2018, 20 to 25 percent of Canadians 10% of people who are experiencing seasonal allergies and suffering from asthma. Evidence shows that an increase in severe seasonal allergies and asthma associated with an increase in pollen due to climate can cost Canada millions of dollars in business revenue and medical costs.

According to experts, methods of adapting to this allergic attack include targeting the life of problematic plants, providing better pharmacological care, and mitigating climate change.

In many parts of the Northern Hemisphere, the combination of high temperatures that accelerate and delay plant flowering and high CO2 levels that increase pollen production is the driving force behind the worsening season of allergies. Founder and current Frances Coates states. -Retired CEO of Ottawa Institute for Aerobiology. She oversaw the collection and distribution of pollen count data collected from 30 sites across Canada for almost 30 years.

But the Canadian case is unique. Data show that it is not as consistent as in other parts of North America, but in some parts of Canada the allergy season is actually longer. According to Coates, pollen production is steadily increasing thanks to CO2, but the movement of the tree limit is also a cause of the problem.

Pollen is introduced into new areas as temperatures rise further north and tree limits follow. This means that severe allergies and asthma increase in the northern community. This is especially true in Ontario and Quebec, where the tree limits are inhabited by trees that produce high levels of pollen.

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On the other hand, the early onset of the flowering period of certain plants resulted in an overlap of pollen seasons that exacerbated the reaction of allergies and asthma, said a professor at the School of Medicine at Queens University, focusing on the effects of allergens. Dr. Ann Ellis said the disease.

For example, in Ontario, the tree and birch pollen season usually begins in late April, and the grass pollen season begins in late May. However, due to the rising temperatures of the climate over the last decade, the grass has begun to bloom early, and the pollen season now coincides with the seasons of many trees in the state.

“It’s a really rough spring because many people are doubly sensitized to both of these allergens,” said Dr. Ellis. She is worried that the increased severity of seasonal allergies will have a significant impact on Canadians’ quality of life, affecting their daily functions such as sleep, exercise and work. The economic impact can be dramatic as more Canadians need to take sick leave, costing businesses millions of dollars in productivity losses.

Some governments have previously proposed and implemented an action plan that includes Quebec. Strategic anti-allergen program In 2015 to combat the unprecedented increase in ragweed pollen in the state. With this strategy, state municipalities will prioritize preventing ragweed growth rather than simply eliminating it, and focus landscaping efforts on vacant lots, snowmen, and other urban areas where plants are known to thrive. became.

The plan featured a financial support program and awareness campaign for municipalities on the best approaches to prevention and removal, such as the use of less impactful herbicides and investment in more frequent mowing and street cleaning.

However, municipalities do not always give priority to these methods because they are burdened with the administrative budget. Cecilia Sierra Heredia, a researcher and lecturer on aeroallergens at Simon Fraser University, said that’s why local programs like Quebec are particularly important in controlling the effects of climate change on allergies and asthma. Said. She also added that it is also necessary to balance public health and environmental hygiene in these strategies.

“Budgets and actions need to reflect two things: protecting workers who take these actions and protecting the surrounding environment,” she said. “It could mean providing personal protective equipment to city employees exposed to large amounts of pollen and using herbicides very carefully.”

Many experts also point out the importance of changing the flora planted in the city. Excessive male trees belonging to a particular species are preferred over female trees because they do not produce flowers or fruits and reduce the confusion of street cleaners, but they can also contribute to the excess of pollen in urban areas. .. According to Sierra Heredia, ensuring that the municipality knows which plants are causing the most problems for the population will be an important step in adapting to the heavier pollen season.

For Coates, an important next step for adaptation involves collecting more data on pollen levels each year to make predictions more accurate.

“As we add more data, future models will change significantly,” she said. “Since the establishment of (Aerobiology Laboratories) in the 1970s, the upward trend in pollen has been relatively consistent.” He said he has more information. Make your model more accurate and convenient.

Regarding infrastructure changes, Sierra Heredia said it is important to be specific to the region of Canada to which it applies, and climate change mitigation itself is a top priority.

“We can take as many adaptations as we need, but if we don’t prevent the increase in greenhouse gases, we will always strive to keep up with the changes in these planets,” she says. I did. “This requires measurable and concrete action by all governments.” This includes selling from fossil fuels. Latest evaluation report She said, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Sierra-Heredia also pointed out the importance of coordinating state and federal budgets to explain the increased health care costs associated with seasonal allergies and asthma. Many Canadians are prevented from receiving treatment.

For now, patients with allergies and asthma should expect to solve the problem on their own. According to Dr. Ellis, paying attention to pollen forecasts, wearing sunglasses and masks outside, and improving air circulation in the home are all ways individuals can adapt to the new limits of the Canadian pollen season.

“After all, my takeaway message is always this-don’t suffer silently,” she said. “Find an allergist and find peace of mind.”

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