Warning over 'extreme levels' of pollen causing symptoms in people without allergies

High pollen levels driven by plants flowering earlier than expected have caused a spike in hay fever symptoms in people who don't normally experience allergies, new data suggests. The shift, thought to be driven by warmer spring weather caused by climate change, has seen "extreme levels" of pollen recorded in northeastern Europe, according to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). While the change has impacted countries around the globe, the effects are particularly acute in northern European regions including Finland, which the EU agency said had recorded "extreme daily means of birch pollen" in May, causing "symptoms even among individuals without known allergies".

Hay fever, which affects between 10% and 30% of the world's population, is caused by the body producing allergic antibodies when it comes into contact with pollen. Sufferers usually experience a runny nose and itchy eyes and throat, generally caused by either tree pollen - which is more common between late winter and spring - and grass pollen, which is more prevalent in late spring and summer.

Roughly a quarter of adults in Europe are thought to suffer from airborne allergies, a number the World Health Organisation (WHO) expects to rise to half by 2050.

Laurence Rouil, director of CAMS, said high pollen levels were not unusual in spring, but noted the particular "severity and extent" of this year's bout.

Dr Veronika Matutyte, from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, also warned that warmer year-round temperatures were driving up airborne pollen levels and suggested that a longer allergy season could "increase cumulative exposure, making symptoms more persistent and severe".

"In my opinion, this year poses a significant challenge for hay fever suffers due to a combination of environmental and climatic factors that are intensifying allergic reactions," she told the Express.

"Rising global temperatures and elevated CO2 levels are leading to longer and more intense pollen seasons [and] warmer winters have caused the pollen season to begin earlier than usual, with airborne pollen detected as early as February.

"To minimise the impact of these worsening conditions, I strongly advise patients to start preventive treatment early. Initiating antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids, and other allergy medications before peak pollen season can help control symptoms more effectively.

"I also recommend that you monitor pollen forecasts. Staying informed about daily pollen levels can help in planning outdoor activities during lower-exposure periods. If symptoms become unmanageable despite standard treatment, seeking guidance from an allergist for immunotherapy or advanced management strategies is crucial."