Dossier
Hay fever and pollen
Hay fever is an allergic reaction that is caused by pollen from trees, grasses and herbaceous plants. When this pollen is dispersed by the wind, people with hay fever suffer from sneezing, red and itchy eyes and a stuffy nose.
Weather conditions determine when 'hay fever plants' flower and how much pollen they release into the atmosphere. Every year, the progression of hay fever symptoms can differ. The daily pollen concentration in the atmosphere in the Netherlands is measured by the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) and Elkerliek Hospital in Helmond.
As part of the Nature’s Calendar observation programme, secondary school students and volunteers keep track of when various hay fever plants begin flowering. The students who conduct observations are also involved with the GLOBE Programme, an international education programme on the environmental sciences established in 1995 by Al Gore.
Knowledge about hay fever is limited
Ambrosia
One plant species that is known world-wide for causing hay fever symptoms is Ambrosia. This species, which is an exotic in the Netherlands, produces large amounts of strongly allergenic pollen. Moreover, the plant flowers late in the year, so the hay fever season for people who are sensitive to Ambrosia can be up to two months longer. Ambrosia originated from North America and has become widespread in the Netherlands because its seeds are unintentionally present in birdseed and wildflower mixtures. By removing plants before they begin flowering, nuisance from the pollen can be prevented, and the species is less likely to spread.
- Unfortunately, your cookie settings do not allow videos to be displayed. - check your settings
Publications on hay fever and pollen
-
Fieldlab Fruit 4.0 : Variabel stikstof bemesten in boomgaard op basis van dronewaarnemingen en bodemscan
Wageningen: Wageningen Plant Research (Rapport / Stichting Wageningen Research, Wageningen Plant Research, Business unit Open Teelten WPR-OT-1085) -
Data for: Functional redundancy of weed seed predation is reduced by intensified agriculture
-
Bio-based building products in the Dutch Environmental Database (NMD). Part 1, Proposal for crediting biogenic carbon storage
Wageningen: Wageningen Food & Biobased Research (Report / Wageningen Food & Biobased Research 2545) -
Experimental data: Optimizing alkaline solvent regeneration through bipolar membrane electrodialysis for carbon capture
-
An assessment of sand quality and potential impacts on corals at the Chogogo Dive and Beach Resort artificial beach. Part 2, Microbial communities
Den Helder: Wageningen Marine Research (Wageningen Marine Research report C004/24) -
Orka's in grote problemen voor Japanse kust: 'Drama voor de moeders'
-
Microbial thiamine production : Harnessing the power of microbes for meaty aromas
Wageningen University. Promotor(en): E.J. Smid, T. Abee - Wageningen: Wageningen University -
Counting the cost of biodiversity loss
-
Towards sustainable Dutch diets : From research to policy
Wageningen University. Promotor(en): P. van ’t Veer, co-promotor(en): E.H.M. Temme, S. Biesbroek - Wageningen: Wageningen University - ISBN: 9789463439725 -
Emoties over bomenkap: 'Mensen zijn conservatief en willen sommige dingen graag zo houden'