New hay fever maps show Britain’s allergy hotspots

Do you suffer from hay fever? Relief could be at hand, as researchers have developed maps of the UK to highlight regions which can exacerbate your allergenic woes.

Published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, this work is the result of the combined efforts of researchers from Exeter University and the Met Office.

The maps were produced in order to show where key trees, grasses, and weeds grow. In this way, it’s hoped that allergy sufferers will be better prepared to manage their condition, as they’ll have a better idea of which areas to avoid.

Certain conditions, including hay fever and some forms of eczema, are caused by pollen grains which are released by specific species of plants and trees. Some pollen grains are also known to exacerbate the symptoms of asthma suffers – a fairly significant problem given that the UK has one of the highest rates of asthma in Europe, and that 80% of asthma suffers also have a pollen allergy.

According to the NHS, over 10 million people in the UK suffer from hay fever.

The maps were created by using aerial mapping techniques and datasets to examine the distribution of 12 plant species under observation by the UK pollen network, including pine, birch, willow, ash, and mugwort.

They show that northern and western regions of Great Britain possessed the highest percentage of allergenic grass, the cause of most people’s hay fever symptoms. The eastern central region of the UK, on the other hand, has the lowest percentage of allergenic grass. Detailed maps of London show that allergenic weed species are highly concentrated within the city.

The paper suggests that these maps could be used in schemes to address high grass density areas close to high population centres, such as by cutting the grass before it flowers and releases pollen grains. However, the authors also note that trying to influence the plant’s flowering cycle in this way could have some negative consequences for biodiversity down the line.

While the maps can give people an idea of which areas around the country are more densely populated with allergenic plants, what they can’t do is say exactly when specific pollen grains will become more common. Nevertheless, the researchers feel that this work has advanced the field closer towards achieving this goal.

“These maps are a step towards a species-level pollen forecast,” said Dr Rachel McInnes, an honorary research fellow at the University of Exeter European Centre for Environment and Human Health. “Pollen can have a serious impact on the wellbeing of those with hay fever or asthma. By working towards a localised, species-level forecast, vulnerable people can better plan their activities and manage their condition.

 These new maps could also provide local authorities and healthcare practitioners with information to assist patients with pollen allergies. While these allergenic plant and tree maps do not provide a forecast of pollen levels, they do provide the most likely locations of grass and of tree species which are the source of most allergenic pollen.”