Superstorm Sandy Could Mean Especially Bad Allergy Season
NYACK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - Spring begins a week from tomorrow, which means allergy season is fast approaching.
Right on schedule, if you look up in wooded Rockland County and other parts of the Tri-State area, you'll see buds on maple, elm, and cedar trees.
There's already pollen in the air and it's about to explode, according to Dr. Leonard Bielory, who is affiliated with Rutgers University and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
Superstorm Sandy Could Mean Especially Bad Allergy Season
"This pollen season begins now. It will be pollinating quite strong in the beginning because of the moisture that we've had this past week and the moisture we had from Hurricane Sandy," he told WCBS 880 reporter Sean Adams. "So Hurricane Sandy's wrath has not gone away for those who suffer from allergies."
He said that because of the storms, the trees are very well fed with nutrients this year and will burst with pollen within the next seven to ten days.
The maple, elm, and cedar will be followed by oak and birch.
Moisture also spawned mold over the winter.
Dr. Bielory has been researching the effects of climate change on the pollen season. It appears to be longer in duration.
The focus now is on the amount of the pollen and whether that, too, has increased.
Have you started suffering from seasonal allergies yet? Please tell us about it below.
