NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - If you’re an allergy sufferer, longer growing seasons could extend your suffering.
The yellow that you see in puddles, on your car, or on anything else outdoors comes from spores released from coniferous trees. The most common coniferous trees in Middle Tennessee are pine trees.
While pine pollen is the easiest to spot, it is not one of the main allergens affecting people and that’s because it’s larger and heavier than other tree pollens. Due to its weight, it falls straight to the ground instead of staying suspended in the air.
Cedar trees, another coniferous tree, do contribute to seasonal allergies. This type of pollen is also yellow, but the pollen spores are smaller and can be blown into the air. Cedar pollen has been high lately in states like Tennessee.
Our warm start to Spring and recent rainfall have contributed to high pollen counts.
Tree pollen is the worst during the Spring months and will be extended going forward due to warmer on average temperatures.
Climate Central cites that there are on average 28 more freeze-free days in the growing season allowing for extended allergy symptoms, especially for those with seasonal allergies.
It is also worth noting that one out of four people in the U.S. suffer from seasonal allergies. In the south, that extended growing season is more of a widespread issue.
As warmer-on-average temperatures continue to be a problem. extended warming seasons and more carbon dioxide being released will worsen seasonal allergies.
The increase in Carbon Dioxide emissions is important because it not only contributes to faster warming but can also cause trees to make more pollen. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says since 1990, pollen seasons have 21% more pollen.
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