Is there more pollen in the air than ever before? This is how allergy sufferers are facing the arrival of spring.

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.

Increased prevalence of respiratory allergies

However, experts warn that in Catalonia, 1.5 million people suffer from some type of respiratory allergy. According to data from the Catalan Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SCAIC), 25% of the population has rhinitis and up to 12% suffer from allergic asthma. For this reason, Belmonte pointed out the importance of being able to quantify allergen concentrations to aid in prevention. SCAIC President Gaspar Dalmau agreed. "Diagnosis and prevention are important for effective patient management and enabling them to lead a more or less normal life," he explained. In this regard, he stated that one of the factors exacerbating allergies is the climate crisis, as it alters plant pollination patterns, lengthening the pollination period and increasing the concentration of allergens in the air. "This has an impact on health and leads to more visits to the emergency room," the allergist emphasized, highlighting the importance of "taking environmental peaks into account to facilitate the management of these patients." Belmonte reminded everyone that the XAC (Spanish Association of Allergy and Poison Control Centers) publishes weekly pollen level predictions for the coming days so that affected individuals can implement preventative measures in addition to their specific treatment. "It helps people know whether, for example, they might experience problems in places they plan to visit over the weekend," he explained.