SUPER POLLEN could trigger allergy epidemic in Britain
- So-called ‘super pollen’ is created when the substance mixes with diesel fumes
- An expert thinks this could have the ability to trigger bouts of extreme hay fever
- It does this as pollen becomes stickier than normal, latching onto body parts
- This could exacerbate symptoms and will only worsen until diesel is controlled, says Dr Paul Carson, British Society for Allergy Clinical Immunology
Stephen Matthews For Mailonline
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Millions of Britons living in cities are at risk of being plagued by ‘super pollen’ this summer, an expert has warned.
Created when the substance mixes with diesel fumes, it has the ability to trigger extreme hay fever and asthma reactions.
It does this as the pollen becomes stickier than normal, causing it to attach onto parts of the body prone to reactions.
This exacerbates hay fever symptoms in the lungs, sinuses and eyes, and could have potentially severe effects.
Created when pollen mixes with diesel fumes in the atmosphere, sticky ‘super pollen’ has the potential to trigger extreme reactions in the lungs, sinuses and eyes, an expert claims
WHAT IS ‘SUPER POLLEN’?
Pollen combines with diesel fumes to create so-called ‘super pollen’.
This is sticker than normal and more easily attaches to body parts.
‘Super pollen’ causes more extreme hay fever symptoms, according to Dr Paul Carson, of the British Society for Allergy Clinical Immunology.
Its affects are worse in major cities, such as London.
Those living in cities such as London, Birmingham and Manchester are most at risk, warns Dr Paul Carson, of the British Society for Allergy Clinical Immunology.
He told The Mirror: ‘Theories include vehicle fumes causing a photochemical smog that blocks pollen grains escaping into the upper atmosphere.
‘It may even make the pollen “stickier” so that it enters – and stubbornly stays stuck – to vulnerable body organs.
‘Big cities such as London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow are most likely to create this “perfect-storm” of pollen pollution hay fever.’
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Unless diesel emissions are brought under control, the situation will only get worse, Dr Carson believes.
Diesel cars on British roads can emit more than nine times the level of dangerous pollutants allowed in official tests.
The figures, announced last month, came from research by consumer group Which?, who tested 278 diesel cars between 2012 and 2016.
Its report found the problem is widespread, but there are particular issues with Jeep, Renault and Nissan vehicles.
Those living in major cities across Britain, such as London, Birmingham and Manchester, are most at risk. The situation will only get worse until diesel emissions are brought under control
Around a quarter of Britain’s 18 million hay fever sufferers are allergic to pollen from birch trees.
Figures suggest this is normally released into the air from mid-April and reaches peak levels in early May.
But this year, record warm weather brought the season forward by around 10 days, with birch-specific hay fever striking around Easter Sunday on April 16.
Most Britons with hay fever are allergic to grass pollen, which normally starts circulating in May or June.
But if the warm weather continues, experts warn the grass pollen season could also start earlier – leading to a long summer of misery for hay fever sufferers.
Amena Warner, head of clinical services at Allergy UK, said: ‘It is very worrying to hear that the effects from pollution, namely from diesel fumes, can make the lives of people with hay fever even more miserable.’
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