Climate Change Could Make Allergy Season More Miserable for Millions, Researchers Find
Tuesday, May 18, 2010 - 15:02
in Earth & Climate
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study of the relationship between carbon dioxide levels and plant growth suggests for the first time that not only do plants grow bigger and produce more pollen when exposed to higher levels of the greenhouse gas, CO2, but the common, allergen-producing fungus Alternaria alternate produces three times more spores (right) when feeding on those enriched plants. The spores disperse on the wind, making allergies and asthma symptoms worse.