PARIS – Climate change and the spread of invasive ragweed are set to double the number of seasonal allergy sufferers across Europe, with similar impacts likely in North America, researchers said on Thursday. By mid-century, some 77 million people in Europe will be hit by hay fever misery, up from 33 million today, they reported in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. The main culprit is climate change, but the continuing spread of the invasive species Ambrosia artemisiifolia - commonly known as ragweed – is also a key driver. The World Health Organisation estimates that 400 million people around the world suffer from allergic rhinitis, and 300 million from pollen-related asthma. His team combined maps of estimated ragweed pollen counts with population projections, data on where people live, and current allergy levels.

Source: Viet Nam News August 26, 2016 05:15 UTC