According to a new report, our warming planet is creating the perfect conditions for a significant increase in pollen levels and bumper fall crops of ragweed in the years to come.
The National Wildlife Federation and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that the changes will affect more than just your Kleenex consumption, but will cost the American economy more than $32 billion dollars in lost productivity, missed workdays and medical costs stemming directly from allergies.Amanda Staudt, a climate scientist at the Wildlife Federation says that spring conditions are already arriving two weeks earlier than 20 years ago. She says that these longer growing seasons will produce even more allergy-provoking pollen and may allow highly allergenic trees like oaks and hickories to start replacing pines, spruces and firs that generally don't trigger allergies.
To cap off the bad news, the worst allergy-inducing plant, ragweed, will actually thrive over a longer, warmer growing season. In fact, there’s evidence that ragweed actually grows faster as carbon dioxide levels increase in our atmosphere.
Harvard University researchers reported similar results in 2002 study .
Hum…maybe we shouldn't be driving military vehicles to the grocery store after all.
Allergy Tip:
Speak to your HR manager or supervisor at work about installing air purifiers in your office.
