Year after year, the pollen returns

Hazel pollen

European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF) expects a high pollen count. It’s that time of year again: in Germany, the pollen season is starting. The first hazel and alder pollen were sighted in many places in Germany at the end of December.

The early appearance of these pollen varieties, which normally do not appear until spring, can be explained by this year’s unusually warm winter.

The European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF) predicts a high birch pollen count this year. The season is expected to last until May 2012. The year 2010 also showed early appearance and comparatively large amounts in birch pollen. The Stiftung Deutscher Polleninformationsdienst (PID, German Pollen Information Foundation) has observed a two-year pattern in birch pollen intensity over the past twelve years: in each of the “even” years, the pollen traps collected a comparatively high amount of birch pollen.

“The cause of the yearly alternation between high and low birch pollen counts has not been definitively explained”, says Professor Dr. med. Karl-Christian Bergmann, ECARF expert and head of the Stiftung Deutscher Polleninformationsdienst (PID), which is located at the Charité. “Fruit trees have what are known as ‘mast years’, in which they produce a comparatively large amount of fruit. This can apply to birches as well. Using the pollen counted in the PID’s pollen traps, reports from plant phenology experts and weather patterns, the Deutscher Wetterdienst (German Weather Service) makes daily pollen count predictions (www.pollenstiftung.de).

Those who suffer from allergic congestion due to hazel pollen may at this point in time already experience typical hay fever symptoms such as sneezing or itchy and watery eyes. Since these symptoms can often be caused by a winter cold, an allergologist should be consulted in the case of doubt. A doctor can prescribe anti-histamines as needed or suggest short-term immunotherapy.

ECARF Seal of Quality aids allergy sufferers
Allergy sufferers who would like to find a region with fewer allergens will find an overview of those communities that have been certified as allergy-friendly with the ECARF Seal of Quality on the website of the European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF). Following the certification of the holiday destinations Baabe on the island of Rügen and Bad Hindelang in the Allgäu region, an entire holiday region was certified for the first time last month: “Ferienland Schwarzwald”, made up of the communities Triberg, Schonach, Schönwald, Furtwangen and St. Georgen, now offers the perfect conditions for an allergy-free holiday with the help of 50 participating service providers.

In keeping with the ECARF motto “For a better life with allergies”, more than 200 certifications have taken place across Europe. The foundation supports the efforts of businesses and services as they follow quality controlled standards in adjusting their offerings to meet the particular wishes and needs of allergic consumers.

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