BBC News - Carbon emissions linked to Europe's hay fever rise
This make sense. We see, feel and live so often hay fever with our allergic daughter and even her sisters that one doubts and hesitates and lost clue in getting the right picture. Traveling from the South to the North and back, the seasons are quiet difficult to determine any longer and pollens do make us stay sniffing and coughing and unfit and the world takes place in a indoor setting. The Netherlands already is a spot to avoid for her as pollens seem to start to outcome when we land with the plane to visit some relatives. In early summer last year and during fresh spring this month, outside life in the city and the countryside becomes rather uncomfortable. When Michael Pollan mentions in his food rules that we should stick to local producers a comparable comment is used by scientists arguing that one should consider the import of exotic trees to European countries.
"In Germany, it is now only in November that we do not see allergenic pollen - so the season of suffering for people with hay fever is getting more serious," she said.
"On a local scale, planners should be more aware of what sort of problems may arise from the urban trees they're planting.
"Often they use birch trees, for example, because of their nice silver colour, not aware that they leave allergenic problems behind."