Throughout March, the start of pollination in trees like the plane tree, willow, and elm typically heralds the arrival of spring. However, this also marks a critical time for allergy sufferers, who must begin taking precautions to minimize pollen-induced symptoms. This year, the low temperatures that have characterized the beginning of the year have meant that winter pollens—from cypress, ash, and hazel—didn't release pollen until the end of February—somewhat later than usual—but, conversely, historical averages have been exceeded since the beginning of the year. Combined with a forecast of warm and rainy weather for March, it seemed that allergy sufferers would have an easier time coping with spring this year, as rainfall causes much of the tree pollen to fall to the ground, thus concentrating it in the air. However, the rainfall has fueled the plants, causing them to bloom more intensely, and the pollen levels released by herbaceous plants and olive trees will last longer than usual, complicating daily life for allergy sufferers. This is the spring pollen forecast from the Aerobiological Network of Catalonia (XAC), published this Tuesday by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (ICTA-UAB). Its aim is to provide preventative care for people with pollen-related conditions. "Although all this rain may have washed a lot of pollen onto the ground, it has also resulted in very strong trees that will produce abundant flowers because they will be well-watered," explained botanist and head of the XAC, Jordina Belmonte. Therefore, they recommend that allergy sufferers protect themselves, even with masks and goggles. This forecast may change depending on the weather.

According to Belmonte, the risk of allergies could decrease if the heavy rainfall that has been occurring since the beginning of the year continues. "This would help clear the air and allow pollen to fall as it has been," noted the ICTA-UAB researcher. Meteorologists predict that March will be rainier than usual, she added, a situation that could also lead to higher than normal temperatures and shorten the pollination period for herbaceous plants. More episodes of strong winds from pollen-free areas would spread the high concentrations expected in Catalonia. Regarding the types of pollen that are increasing most significantly, cypress, plane tree, olive, and ash pollen stand out. However, Belmonte emphasized that this varies depending on the location, since "not all pollens behave the same way everywhere." "We need to debunk the myth that there is more and more pollen in the air, since there are places where there is less and less," he explains.

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Fourteen-year-old Fiona Olivé lives with a constant cough and runny nose. It's as if she's always sick. During the cold season, her family is always on high alert to prevent her from getting seriously ill, as any respiratory infection can easily become complicated and develop into pneumonia. The young girl is allergic to various types of dust mites, grasses, and cats, and for a time, there was also a suspicion that she was allergic to eggplants, which was recently ruled out after controlled food exposure at the Sant Pau Hospital's day hospital. However, for the two years she lived with this suspicion, she had to act like a person with allergies. de facto to this vegetable. During this period, explains Karla Islas, her mother, the hardest thing for her was having to constantly be aware of the allergy "and, before eating anything, having to ask or be alert in case it contained eggplant." The young woman "also found it difficult at school," she adds.

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Pollen allergy sufferers should be on alert this spring, especially for children between the ages of 5 and 15 and adults between the ages of 35 and 40. After a winter with above-average pollination rates, the rainfall of recent weeks, and the forecast for a spring with heavy downpours, experts predict significant and prolonged peaks that threaten allergy sufferers this season. "Even people who don't normally suffer from allergies will have to be vigilant. When severe episodes like these occur, new adverse reactions to pollen can be triggered," warns the coordinator of the Aerobiological Network of Catalonia (XAC) and researcher at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Barcelona).

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