Pollen season in Denmark is significantly being altered in terms of timing and intensity due to climate change. There has been a surge in pollen allergy cases.
Warmer temperatures and increased humidity are driving higher pollen production and extending the allergy season, affecting an increasing number of people. Southern Spain recently saw warmer winter temperatures too, with an increased amount of hayfever sufferers.
Denmark’s pollen levels on the rise
The production of pollen in Denmark has seen a marked increase since the 1980s. Grass pollen levels have risen by 19 per cent, while birch pollen has surged by 35 per cent, according to a study published in the journal Atmosphere. This rise is linked to higher carbon dioxide levels, which accelerate photosynthesis and lead to increased pollen production.
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Tyra Grove Krause, functional director of epidemiological readiness at the Statens Serum Institut (SSI), explained, “We follow the development [of pollen] continuously… [and it is] moving continuously more north.”
She noted that outbreaks of pollen-related issues are now being observed in Germany and are progressing further north.
Hayfever seasons are starting earlier in Denmark
For allergy sufferers like Mette Lund, symptoms are now affecting her year-round. She told Euronews: “Tree pollen allergy for the early wood species [is] sometimes even already irritable at Christmas time. It used to be in January, February [that it started].”
Climate change and health risks
Beyond pollen allergies, climate change is enabling the spread of other health threats. Warmer and wetter conditions provide ideal living conditions for disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes and ticks. These insects are responsible for transmitting exotic viruses, further endangering public health. Denmark recently reported one of its wettest summers on record.
Increased extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and floods, are also contributing to a rise in illnesses. Exposure to polluted water can result in a wide range of infections, such as the “flesh-eating bug” outbreak reported in the US last month.
As Denmark continues to face the impacts of climate change, these challenges are expected to worsen. In other Danish news, the country is planning to convert 15 per cent of its farmland into forests in a bid to improve oxygen levels in waters and support marine life.
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Publish date : 2024-11-21 10:13:00
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The post Climate change in Denmark causing hayfever « Euro Weekly News first appeared on Love Europe.
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Publish date : 2024-11-21 21:06:20
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