Madison Square Park has oak, maple, elm and birch trees, which release high amounts of pollen in the Spring. (Photo by Juan Diego Ramirez)
Opening your windows for the first time after a cold winter in New York City might feel like a breath of fresh air. However, for many who live in a greener zone of the city, a nice breeze in the spring is the beginning of the dreaded allergy season—and efforts to expand the urban canopy could be exacerbating their symptoms.
That’s the case for Georgia Kuiok, a New York University student living in the Flatiron District. She has suffered from allergies all her life, but spring and fall are when they flare up.
“I take allergy meds daily,” she said.
Trees are vital in the city’s efforts to mitigate climate change. During high heat times, shaded areas are 20 to 40 degrees cooler than areas without. (Source: NYC Parks )
According to NYC Health + Hospitals, allergies flare up during certain months when trees, weeds and grass release pollen into the air. CDC allergy data show that 19% of people under 18 years old suffer from seasonal allergies in the United States. That number increases to almost 26% for people over the age of 18.
Dr. David Erstein is a specialist in allergy and immunology at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln.
“Climate change has led to longer growing seasons and higher pollen counts,” he told a NYC Health + Hospitals publication. “Warmer temperatures and increased carbon dioxide levels help plants produce more pollen, and for a longer stretch of the year.”
Itchy eyes, runny noses and asthma attacks can be a product of pollen allergies.
“It’s like living with a chronic illness,” said Kuiok, who’s been to the hospital several times due to her seasonal allergies.
Limiting time outdoors on high-pollen days and in the early morning when pollen counts are highest can be helpful for those who suffer from allergies, according to Dr. Erstein.
“Keep windows closed, use air purifiers, and shower after being outside to wash off pollen can also be helpful,” he said.
With plans to expand its Neighborhood Tree Planning Program throughout its five boroughs, the city finds itself dealing with a public health conundrum: More tree species means more allergens.
“We now plant over 130 different species and varieties of trees, up from only 29 species twenty years ago,” said Judd Faulker, a spokesperson for NYC Parks.
NYC Parks manages 7,300 acres of natural forest area, street and parkland trees, according to their website.
“Each area demands a different planting approach, which includes species selection. A number of criteria goes into choosing which tree species is most appropriate, including flood/drought conditions, soil compaction/pollution, sunlight, surrounding canopy, and potential conflict with nearby infrastructure,” said Faulker as the city aims to fight urbanization, heat islands and air pollution.
“We aim to continue planting and maintaining a robust and diverse population of trees across the city that can tolerate all the challenges that the urban landscape provides,” he said.
According to NYC Parks, trees are vital in the fight against climate change. During the high heat of the summer, areas shaded by trees can be 20 to 40 degrees cooler than areas without trees.
While a strong and healthy tree canopy is critical for managing stormwater, providing habitat for animals, and reducing heat, it can also worsen pollen levels, according to Guy Robinson, a Visiting Scholar at Fordham University Department of Natural Sciences.
New York City was built on an Oak-Hickory woodland, but invasive species are creating a pollen problem, particularly in neighborhoods with more trees, according to one of Robinson’s studies.
“Trees that are exotics for the most part planted as ornamentals like Chinese, Elm, and the Pagoda tree flower in August, which is not when most trees flower, and so we’re now getting a second tree season in the late summer, early fall, which we didn’t have before,” said Robinson.
This chart was created to help New Yorkers find which trees planted in the neighborhood produce more pollution than others. Source: Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology
“I’m certainly not opposed to planting trees, but I do think we should think more carefully about which ones we plant because there are plenty of choices,” he said. Robinson and his colleagues have created a list of trees that produce less pollen and, therefore, could be a better fit for public health.
“The Tulip tree is one. It’s actually the tallest trees you can find in the city. Those produce very little pollen ‘cause they’re insect-pollinated. Anything that’s insect-pollinated is going to be less overall,” he said.
Although NYC Parks has not announced plans to prioritize low-pollen trees, they have created an immersive city map on their website that shows all the information on the trees under their care across the city.
NYC Parks offers a map on their website to see what species of trees have been planted around their neighborhood, and if it contributes to their seasonal allergies. (Source: NYC Parks)
Users can explore the map and see what species of trees are planted around their neighborhood and check whether those species are contributing to their seasonal allergy flare-ups.
For Robinson, a tree map is useful, but it’s not enough if the city does not take proactive steps to address the pollen issue.
“We actually have the capacity to do something in terms of airborne pollen in the city, and so this should be given some consideration when planning another project of tree planting,” he said.
Visitors have been flocking to The Bronx to pay homage to the character “Joker.”
Some local workers say that the influx of tourists has caused disruption to their daily lives.
A bodega near the infamous staircase was able to see some of the movie’s production
Juan Diego Ramirez 