As if this time of year wasn’t difficult enough for people with allergies. Wherever you look, the grass is growing, plants are starting to flower and trees everywhere are pollinating. And now it seems pollution from vehicles and industry could be adding to the problem, making our seasonal allergies even worse.
Scientists have long suspected that the increase in air born pollutants is linked to the huge increase in the number of people with allergies. But details on why they may be linked have always remained elusive, until now. Preliminary findings from Germany have identified two pollutants, ozone and nitrogen dioxide. The team believes that they can have an effect on pollen, changing its natural structure, making it even more potent. The research is still in its early stages but these initial findings could help to explain why the number of people with airborne allergies is on the rise.
Worldwide as much as 40% of the population is overly sensitive to allergens in the environment. And around 1 in 5 Americans have some sort of allergy, that’s a staggering 50 million people in the US alone. Hay fever is one of the more common allergies, amongst adults it accounts for around 4 million missed days at work, which equates to 700 million dollars in lost productivity. Research like that carried out in Germany is vital if we are to have any chance of fully understanding the disease and eventually finding a cure.
For more information follow this LINK
Are you suffering with seasonal allergies this year? If so, why not check out our range of air purifiers to see which one is right for you. Designed to trap 99.97% of all air borne pollutants larger than 0.3 microns, our machines take care of all the big offenders, pollen, dust and pet dander, as well as chemicals and noxious gases.
Share:
Adverse childhood experiences linked to asthma
Avocado may protect against the effects of air pollution