Allergists point to climate change as cause for record-breaking pollen levels in Georgia
Erica Van Buren- Climate change is causing record-breaking pollen counts due to longer, warmer seasons and increased carbon dioxide.
- Higher pollen counts are leading to more severe allergy symptoms, including itchy eyes, sneezing, congestion, and coughing.
- Experts recommend starting allergy medications, such as nasal steroid sprays, earlier in the year to combat the effects of an earlier allergy season.
Symptoms of climate change are impacting the allergy season, causing record breaking pollen counts.
“We have the Rotorod machine which collects pollen,” said Lily Hwang, a physician with Atlanta Allergy & Asthma. “So far this year we've had some record high numbers. March 20 was the very first day we had what was considered an extremely high range. The pollen count was 14,000 (per cubic meter). The week after that, March 29, our count was 14,801. So we've definitely had a record high this year compared to last year."
Pollen count ratings for comparison
Trees: Low 0-14. Moderate 15-89. High 90-1499. Extremely high 1500+
Grass: Low 0-4. Moderate 5-19. High 20-199. Extremely High 200+
Weeds: Low 0-9. Moderate 10-49. High 50-499. Extremely high 500+
Pollen is the grains or tiny seeds of flowering plants, trees, and grasses. These seeds can be carried by wind and can cause many symptoms, or none at all, if exposed to them, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hwang said the more days with extremely high pollen counts is a cause for concern.
“In 2024, 72% of the days during the season were in the extremely high range,” she said. “This is when people start experiencing a lot of symptoms. Even in 2023 we had like 86% in that high and extremely high range. And if you look at what's going on in 2025, if we keep going at the rate we're going, we're probably going to surpass that number potentially this year.”
Climate change impacts pollen count and grain size, the length of the pollen season and human health, according to the CDC.
“Atlanta and Augusta are very similar in terms of the climate, " said Dr. Kathleen May, division chief of allergy immunology and pediatric rheumatology at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. " We don't do a pollen count (in Augusta). I don't (know) a reason we wouldn't be seeing the same thing here. In fact, we may have more because we have more plants here.
"Even with the hurricane, it's still going to be pretty high compared to urban Atlanta.”
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, plants that have powdery granules of pollen that are easily blown by the wind include:
- Ragweed
- Sagebrush
- Pigweed
- Tumbleweed
- Russian thistle
- Cockle weed
Spring pollen comes from hardwood trees − oak, pine, birch, sweet gum, hickory, sycamore, hackberry, mulberry, according to Atlanta Allergy & Asthma.
“The warming of the atmosphere and the increased carbon dioxide are not only making the seasons longer, they're making the plants grow larger, said May. “Then they produce more pollen per plant. Because of climate change, the growing seasons are shifting the peaks of those pollen earlier, so that they're lining up more than they used to.”
May added, “One of the reasons you're seeing these very high peaks is because the individual species of plants are sort of all blooming at once, as opposed to being a little staggered through the season.”
Some allergy symptoms
Some symptoms to be on the look out for according to May include:
- Itchy eyes
- Congestion
- Postnasal drainage
- Coughing
- Wheezing
Allergy treatment options
Treatment for those suffering pollen allergies can vary depending on each persons' individual triggers, said May.
“Once we identify in our patients which thing they’re sensitive to, for instance trees, we will have them start their medicines in January regularly,” said May. “Nasal steroid sprays, like Flonase, really take about two weeks to work fully ... (so) that way they can be ready for the season.”
This reporting content is supported by a partnership with several funders and Journalism Funding Partners.
Erica Van Buren is the climate change reporter for The Augusta Chronicle, part of the USA TODAY Network. Connect with her at EVanBuren@gannett.com or on X: @EricaVanBuren32.