Pollen season is getting longer, earlier and more intense due to a changing climate, according to a study published in a journal of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday.
Scientists at several universities led by William Anderegg at Rutgers examined data from pollen measurements dating between 1990 and 2018, and discovered that the pollen season increased by 20 days during the period, while the amount of pollen in the air grew by 21 percent.
“We find widespread progress and prolongation of pollen times (+20 d) and increases in pollen concentrations (+ 21%) in North America, which are strongly linked to perceived warming,” the study concludes. “Our results show that anthropogenic climate change has exacerbated pollen tides over the past three decades with associated adverse effects on respiratory health.”
“It’s a crystal clear example that climate change is here and that it’s in every breath,” Anderegg told the Associated Press.
Scientists around the world have warned that the environment must be heated to 2 degrees Celsius to prevent the catastrophic effects of climate change.
A study published earlier this year indicated that greenhouse gas emissions already in the atmosphere could push the earth over the next few centuries.
The US has withdrawn from the Paris climate agreement, which agrees to limit warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, below former President Trump
Donald Trump DOJ wants to resign from most Trump-appointed U.S. attorneys: reports Trump attorney withdraws request not to hold indictment on Saturday Kinzinger in open calls to GOP senators to convict Trump in indictment MORE and re-entered the multinational agreement last month.