A New Pollen Record in Denmark: Pollen Seasons Stretching Longer and Intensifying
Over the weekend, a new record for grass pollen in Denmark was set, with the highest measured level ever recorded. According to a press release from the patient association Asthma-Allergy Denmark, a pollen count of 429 was measured on Saturday. The previous record was 411 and was set in 2022. The pollen count, which indicates the amount of pollen in the air at a given time, was influenced by a combination of heavy rain followed by dry weather. This combination has created optimal conditions for grass to release pollen into the air.
According to Sidsel Damsbo Andersen, the head of Asthma-Allergy Denmark’s Pollen Counting, this year has been unusual, with all types of pollen starting early and in higher quantities than expected. Asthma-Allergy Denmark has analyzed pollen seasons back to 1981 and found that both the amount of pollen and the length of the seasons have increased significantly. On average, pollen seasons have become 18 days longer than before. This year, the season started 18 days earlier than in 2023.
Climate change and increased levels of CO2 in the air are some of the factors believed to have contributed to this trend. CO2 acts as a kind of fertilizer for plants, providing them with optimal growing conditions and therefore increasing pollen production, explains Sidsel Damsbo Andersen. Unfortunately, the trend of rising pollen levels seems to continue in the future. Around one million Danes live with pollen allergies, and the increasing pollen levels make life harder for this group.