Climate change causes hay fever cases to explode in Switzerland
Published: Tuesday, May 14th 2024, 09:30
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Climate change has led to a sharp rise in the number of people suffering from hay fever in Switzerland. 100 years ago, hay fever was largely unknown in Switzerland, but today it affects around one in five people in Switzerland, as a new fact sheet shows.
According to the fact sheet published by the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) on Tuesday, climate change has led to many allergenic plants releasing their pollen earlier and with greater intensity. Climate change also favors the spread of invasive, highly allergenic plants such as ragweed.
Air pollution could also have contributed to the spread of hay fever. According to the researchers, plants stressed by poor air quality appear to produce pollen that triggers stronger allergic reactions. Air pollution can also damage people's airways, which promotes asthma and hay fever.
High costs
According to the fact sheet, an estimated 0.8 percent of the population were allergic to pollen in 1926. Today, it is estimated that around 20 percent of people in Switzerland are affected. The increase in the frequency of allergies is therefore a global phenomenon.
In addition to the impact on the quality of life of those affected, this also has economic consequences: "In Switzerland, they are estimated to amount to between one and four billion Swiss francs per year," the fact sheet states. This includes direct costs for medication or hospital stays as well as indirect costs due to reduced productivity and missed school and work days.
Adapt planting
The fact sheet was compiled by researchers from the Swiss Commission for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP), SCNAT and the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology (MeteoSwiss). The scientists compiled the latest findings on the topic.
To combat this, the researchers propose a range of measures. These include limiting climate change and air pollution, combating invasive species, adapted planting in communities and a warning system.
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