Hay fever sufferers now endure symptoms for up to two weeks longer than they did in the 90s, a study has claimed.
Climate change has prolonged the pollen season, increasing the amount of time people with hay fever are exposed to allergens, according to the Lancet Countdown in Europe 2026 report.
Hay fever occurs when a person is allergic to pollen from trees, grass and weeds.
Symptoms are usually worse when the weather is warm, humid and windy, when the pollen count is at its highest over summer.
The new report, published in The Lancet Public Health, says climate change is shifting the flowering season of plants that release allergenic pollen.
They examined changes in the timing and intensity of birch, alder and olive pollen season.
They found an earlier season start of one to two weeks was detected for all allergenic trees between 2015 and 2024, compared with 1991 to 2000.
Dr Samantha Walker, director of research and innovation at Asthma and Lung UK, warned: “A longer pollen season will bring more misery for people with hay fever.”
Anne Biggs, deputy head of clinical services at Allergy UK, said: “While for some their symptoms can be mild, for many their hay fever symptoms impacts their quality of life.
“Research and understanding into the timing and length of the different pollen seasons is vital to support clinicians to ensure treatment and management of allergic conditions can be optimised.”
A separate allergy strategy, spearheaded by charities, patients and doctors, says the UK has some of the highest allergy rates in the world – with 39% of children and 30% of adults affected.
It warns that care and treatment for allergies are “dramatically under-resourced” within the NHS.
Elsewhere, the report on climate change and health in Europe, which was written by 65 researchers from 46 academic and UN institutions, warns of heat-related health risks being on the rise, pointing out that heat health warnings across Europe have increased by 318% compared with the 1990s.
Heat health warnings are issued when extended periods of hot weather can have an impact on people’s health.
The authors point out that nearly all European regions monitored saw increased numbers of deaths attributable to heat during the period between 2015 and 2024 compared with 1991 to 2000.
In 2024 alone, they estimated there were about 62,000 deaths in Europe attributed to heat.
The report also highlights that climate change is leading to more mosquito-borne viruses being found in Europe.
The overall average risk for dengue outbreaks increased by 297% across Europe during 2015 to 2024 compared with 1981 to 2010, the authors said.
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