LONDON: A rare pollen will cause misery for allergy sufferers in the UK, experts have warned.
Ragweed is spreading across Europe with the pollen notorious for causing severe allergic reactions and devastating asthma attacks.
Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is native to North America but since the 1960s has spread rapidly across warmer parts of Europe.
The plant is already the biggest cause of hay-fever in the US. Its pollen can travel for hundreds of miles on the wind and it is resilient enough to survive through a mild winter.
It is still rare in the UK – but by 2050 could be scattering pollen throughout much of England, new research suggests.
Pollen from the plant not only induces severe allergic reactions but also extends the hay-fever season from summer to autumn.
Scientists writing in the journal Nature Climate Change found that predicted levels of global warming were likely to create conditions perfect for ragweed in the UK.
They said: “Climate change and ragweed seed dispersal in current and future suitable areas will increase airborne pollen concentrations, which may consequently heighten the incidence and prevalence of ragweed allergy.”
The scientists added: “Once established, ragweed is difficult to eradicate because of its long-lived seed, its capacity to re-sprout after cutting and its propensity to evolve resistance to herbicides.
