CLIMATE CHANGE AS A CULPRIT

‘Pollen allergies present one of the strongest examples of how global warming poses an increasing risk to public health; more than 17 million South Africans suffer from hay fever – that is set to increase,’ says aerobiologist Dilys Berman.

‘Several factors related to climate change fuel an increase in allergens, including heat-trapping gases such as carbon dioxide, which are causing Earth’s temperature to rise,’ explains Professor Jonny Peter, head of the Allergy Unit at the University of Cape Town’s Lung Institute. ‘This increases the growth rate of plants, and the amount and potency of pollen in the air. Carbon dioxide is like miracle fertiliser for pollen and we’re producing it at a rapid rate.’

According to Berman, grass pollen in Cape Town increased four-fold last spring. ‘Rising temperatures are extending the growing season and duration of pollen production – enabling weeds and grasses to triple in size – exacerbating hay fever symptoms.’

In fact, scientists predict that pollen counts will quadruple in the next 20 to 30 years. Consistent monitoring of the pollen count is seemingly the only way around the issue; that way, allergists can better understand the impact of climate change on pollen seasons, and how pollen is evolving, and so develop more effective treatments for local conditions. But, says Professor Peter, the Allergy Unit has been able to consistently track pollen in Cape Town only for the past 30 years, while other parts of the country have been monitored sporadically due to funding constraints.

‘This year,’ Berman says, ‘we’ve extended pollen monitoring to seven of the 10 biomes in SA – our aim is to have national coverage in place before the end of the year, which is why we are calling on the public to help us reach our target by way of a crowdfunding campaign.’