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Allergy & Asthma Advocate: Spring 2003
How weather affects
allergies: A look at the past, present and future
By Donald W. Pulver, MD, FAAAAI
  Have
you been wondering whether your area will have a heavy pollen season
this spring? Like you, not even scientists who have computer
mathematical models incorporating years of pollen and meteorological
data, will know what this year’s pollen season will be like. In fact, no
one can accurately forecast pollen potential. Mother Nature is in total
control.
There are many factors that affect pollen levels and these factors vary
from year to year. Since no one can predict future weather trends or the
factors that affect pollen accurately (such as soil temperatures, number
of days above 55 degrees, duration of freezing temperatures throughout
the winter and moisture levels), it is difficult to determine the
severity of spring allergy season.
Relying on up-to-the-minute, proven, standardized and quality controlled
data from the AAAAI National Allergy Bureau (NAB),
www.aaaai.org/nab, is so
important. The AAAAI Aeroallergen Network is a system of pollen and
spore counting stations staffed by AAAAI member volunteers who
generously donate their time and expertise. The NAB currently provides
the most accurate and reliable pollen and mold counts from approximately
84 counting stations throughout the United States and 4 counting
stations in Canada. The stations use state-of-the-art air sampling
equipment to collect airborne pollen and spores for research to aid in
the diagnosis, treatment and management of allergic diseases. The pollen
information listed on the Web site is as close to real time as possible,
often within hours to 24 hours of actual occurrence.
Sometimes there are unusual weather patterns that do lead us to
believe that pollen levels will be worse than previous years. The
following example demonstrates how severe weather disturbances have an
effect on pollen levels:
On 4/19/98 “El Nino Allergies” was the lead topic on NBC Dateline:
The El Nino weather pattern created unusually early warmth and wet,
rainy conditions for the southwest and northeast regions of the US in
early spring 1998. El Nino, due to warm water off Ecuador, sent the
jet stream northward with tropical warm weather conditions that
nurtured plants and created mudslides in California with marked
blooming of western sage and ragweed. As plants flowered, they
released pollen. The northeast experienced the earliest release of
tree pollen in decades. Instead of usual March/April release, it
started February 6, a full month earlier. This extended the pollen
season and allergy sufferers were exposed to one additional month of
pollen, resulting in an increase in allergy symptoms.
The botanically delightful and long growth season created optimal
conditions, rain and warmth, for record shattering tree pollination
the next spring. As a result of nurturing rain, trees grew more
branches and formed more buds with pollen anthers inside, explaining
why the following year we had record shattering tree pollination in
the Northeast. The tree pollen was so heavy it made interstate highway
driving slick and dangerous due to the coating of roads. For other
plants such as ragweed and grass, the impact was seen immediately with
prolonged and abundant pollen levels in 1998.
The example listed above reflects an abnormal weather phenomenon;
nevertheless it demonstrates how weather can affect pollen levels. As
spring arrives in your area this year, please visit the AAAAI Web site
for patient education materials that will help you learn to manage your
symptoms. And don’t forget to stay up-to-date with the latest pollen
levels by visiting www.aaaai.org/nab
for pollen and mold counts. Above all, be sure to visit your allergist
for the latest treatment options. If you are not seeing an allergist and
would like to locate one in your community, please visit the AAAAI
Physician Referral Directory,
www.aaaai.org/physref, and enter your zip code for a complete
listing of allergists.
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