The pollen warning lights up red in large parts of eastern and southern Norway on Tuesday. Strong spreading of birch pollen is also expected tomorrow in large parts of the country. This means runny noses and red eyes for more than 20 percent of Norwegians. We have asked two experts in Norway’s Asthma and Allergy Association questions about Norway’s most common allergy. Hallvard RamfjordSenior researcher at the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association What is pollen? Senior researcher at Norway’s Asthma and Allergy Association, Hallvard Ramfjord, says that pollen is particles that spread through the air, and can be compared to male sex cells: – Their purpose is fertilisation. That they will meet hobo worms, and then there will be fertilization that leads to seeds and reproduction. – Other than that, some types of pollen have some protein in them and amino acids which are bad for allergy sufferers, and which cause allergic reactions. Is there more pollen now than before? Especially in Austlandet and further south, there has been more birch in nature, says Ramfjord. The reason is changes in the agricultural and forestry industry: – Before, there were more livestock that were out and about in the fields. Now there are several places that are growing again, and then there will be a lot of birch trees. Because of the conversion, there has been more birch and more birch pollen. When it comes to the other types of pollen, we do not see the same effect: – There is about the same amount of grass pollen and burroot pollen as there was before. Birch in the forest. Photo: Morten Waagø / news What measures do we take at community level to get less pollen? Ramfjord says that we have a Norwegian standard for planting birch trees because they spread pollen very easily: – We have a Norwegian standard that requires there to be a distance of at least one hundred meters from where new birch is planted to, for example, nurseries, schools , nursing homes etc. – Where it is important to have as good air quality as possible, he adds. Can climate change lead to more pollen? If you get mild winters over time, and it generally gets warmer, the forest line will gradually creep up, says Ramfjord: – Then you can have an effect that means there will be more birch than before. – This way there can be more pollen as a result of climate change, but it will take time. It will take quite a long time if such an effect is to occur, he adds. Anna BistrupSenior health adviser at the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association What treatment is possible for pollen allergy? Anna Bistrup refers to four different types of medication that can be used against pollen allergies: Tablets Augedropar with antihistamine Nasal spray with antihistamine or cortisone Allergy vaccination – We have tablets, or what we call antihistamine. It is important to point out that there are different types of antihistamine. So if one type of antihistamine is not completely optimal for you, there are different active ingredients in the different tablets. – You can get an over-the-counter nasal spray with antihistamine, and a nasal spray with cortisone. The latter is perhaps preferable when you are going to treat locally with a nasal spray. Bistrup says that another alternative could be so-called allergen-specific immunotherapy, better known as allergy vaccination. This is a three-year treatment that is available on prescription: – If none of the usual allergy medicines work, allergy vaccination should be considered. – It is for those who have a lot of problems. It is a good alternative for those with severe pollen allergies. We see that far more people should undergo this type of treatment than we see today. Pills, nasal sprays and eye drops are often the solution for many with pollen allergies. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB Can people who are not allergic to pollen notice pollen in the air? Bistrup says that it is probably possible to notice pollen in the air in the form of what is called mechanical irritation. Birch pollen will still not cause such great irritation among non-allergy sufferers due to its size. – Birch pollen is quite small. But the non-allergenic pollen, such as spruce and pine, can irritate both eyes and nose. But these are not allergenic. Has pollen allergy become a more widespread problem among Norwegians? – Yes, we are more allergic now than we were forty years ago as a population, says Bistrup. She says that there has been a great increase in allergic diseases in the western world. This has many different causes. Both heredity and environment play a role. – We also have something called the biodiversity hypothesis, she adds. – It suggests that we have reduced contact with bacteria in our surroundings, meaning we live in a more urban environment. Therefore, we do not develop a normal tolerance for the diversity in our environment and we can then get an immune system that overreacts and misinterprets harmless allergens as something dangerous, which in turn can cause an allergic reaction. She says that the picture is mixed. But that children who grow up on farms have far fewer allergies than those who grow up in urban environments. This helps to support the theory. Can you develop allergies in adulthood? – Yes, you can definitely develop allergies in adulthood, replies Bistrup. She says that pollen allergies can fluctuate from year to year. Last year was a mild season. This year’s season is stronger. When there is more pollen, you will notice more of the problems. People with a weakened immune system may also experience that the symptoms worsen: – If you have a reduced immune system, you may also experience the symptoms more than otherwise. If, for example, you have just recovered from a viral infection. According to Bistrup, it is not as easy to spontaneously get rid of a pollen allergy as an adult.
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8 questions and answers about pollen – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
