(CNN) -- Allergy sufferers who dread the problems warm weather brings may have more reason to worry in the coming years, as researchers look at the potential impact of climate change.
This is a case of scientific hitting close to home for many people as researchers look at potential links between a warmer climate and higher pollen counts and the news is likely not what allergy sufferers want to hear.
A doctor at Rutgers University presented research at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, making the case that pollen counts are likely to more than double in the next 30 years or so.
The numbers come from a study looking at plants that produce pollen. They’re being grown in climate chambers under what scientists think could be the conditions in the future. One model shows pollen counts would go from an average of 8,455 in 2000 to 21,735 in 2040 with allergy seasons more severe, and beginning earlier.
It’s important to note this was a conference presentation, it’s not as scrutinized as information in a peer-reviewed journal, but one allergist not involved in the study says this makes sense, the more carbon dioxide, the more pollen produced by plants, which would be trouble for many of us.
