London - Hay fever sufferers face increasing misery over the next century as pollen levels soar, a study suggests.
Higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will lead to a significant increase in the volume of grass pollen in the air, according to findings published recently.
US academics at the University of Massachusetts found projections for increasing carbon dioxide, pumped out by cars, planes and factories, will could increase airborne pollen three-fold in the next 100 years.
Carbon dioxide is a key component in the process of photosynthesis, the mechanism by which plants create energy from sunlight and water.
Higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere mean the leaves of plants can capture more of it, leading to greater growth of foliage including grass.
Lead scientist Dr Christine Rogers, whose research is published in the journal PLOS One, said: ‘The implications of increasing CO2 for human health are clear.
'Stimulation of grass pollen production by elevated CO2 will increase airborne concentrations and increase exposure and suffering in grass pollen-allergic individuals.’
For the study, grass plants grown in special reactor chambers were exposed to different atmospheric gas concentrations.
Different ratios of carbon dioxide and ozone were tested to show their effects on grass and pollen production.
The scientists found that an atmospheric CO2 concentrations of 800 parts per million - possible by the end of the century according to some forecasts - raised pollen production per grass flower by 53 per cent.
Greater plant growth stimulated by the elevated CO2 further increased pollen levels, resulting in an overall boost of treble that without any additional CO2.
The researchers focused on Timothy grass, a major cause of hay fever.
Dr Rogers added: ‘This is the first evidence that pollen production is significantly stimulated by elevated carbon dioxide in a grass species.
'It has worldwide implications due to the ubiquitous presence of grasses in all biomes (vegetation habitats) and high prevalence of grass pollen allergy.
‘These results are similar to our other studies performed in other highly allergenic taxa such as ragweed but with more extreme outcomes and wider impacts.’ - Daily Mail