Q: Is hay fever getting worse because of climate change?
A: Allergy sufferers should really have their own mascots: Itchy, Sneezy, Wheezy, Runny, Snotty and Cranky. That last one will be especially thrilled to hear that the 2011 allergy season is slated to be one of the worst in years.
Keep in mind that local weather triggers will vary year to year, place to place. So right here, right now, blooming trees and growing grass may be bursting with pollen after an especially wet winter followed by an even wetter spring.
But the overarching long-term pattern is undeniable. Climate change is extending the allergy season.
In a report called Extreme Allergies And Global Warming, the U.S. National Wildlife Federation noted that across the continent, spring has been arriving on average 10 to 14 days earlier than 20 years ago.
That means plants are getting it on earlier (that’s what pollination is all about) and your mucous membranes pay the immediate price.
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences early this year also found that higher latitudes like ours are feeling the itch longer because delays in the fall’s first frost are lengthening the frost-free period. You may not be feeling it just yet (ragweed season comes later), but trust me, you will, for at least an extra week or three.
For 15 years, the researchers analyzed pollen data from 10 North American locations, and while T.O. wasn’t under study, poor Winnipeg and Saskatoon have added 25 to 27 days to their allergy calendar.
And as the world warms, gee willikers, just watch those allergy med sales grow. And wouldn’t you know it, just when pollen is at its peak, trace residues of over-the-counter antihistamines in wastewater and adjacent river samples are also at their highest.
In particular, researchers have detected the cetirizine in Reactine, the acrivastine in Benedryl Allergy Relief and the fexofenadine in Allegra floating out of sewage treatment plants and making their way downstream.
What are the enviro ramifications? To be frank, who knows? It has yet to be studied. In the meantime, at least Claritin’s loratadine and Aerius’s desloratadine weren’t detected in any samples, so we might hazard a non-scientific guess that those compounds break down more readily. But wouldn’t you feel better experimenting with natural, pharma-free solutions instead?
The blue-sky good news is that they can actually help. The herbal remedy butterbur has actually been tested against cetirizine (aka Reactine) and fexofenadine (Allegra) in two separate trials and has come out shining. The British Journal of Medicine study point-blank found it just as effective without the drowsy side effects. Try this as a first line of defence against seasonal allergies.
Naturopaths also often suggest the natural bioflavonoid quercetin between meals for several weeks. Studies have found it suppresses the release and/or production of inflammation-boosting histamines and leukotrienes, though studies on allergy sufferers are lacking. For better absorption, take it with bromelain unless you’re allergic to pineapples.
There are a number of herbal formulas to help with bronchial issues like hay fever and allergies, like SunForce RespirActin, as well as homeopathic remedies that garner a lot of anecdotal support (though you may find you have to pop them really frequently.)
If burning eyes are driving you batty, look for homeopathic eye drops at the health store. Similasan Allergy Eye Relief drops are great for calming itchy, burning, watery red eyes. Moreover, you should really get yourself a neti pot and start doing regular nasal douches with saltwater. Feels bizarre at first, but you’ll learn to love what it does for you.
And kick things up a notch in the kitchen. You can temporarily clear our your sinuses with a good dose of spicy food, so cook with cayenne, chilies, hot ginger and lots of garlic and onions.
A dab of wasabi won’t hurt either – though I can’t promise it won’t burn a little as things clear.
Got a question? Send your green queries to ecoholic@nowtoronto.com
