Making misery for millions

A new study reveals that city traffic could be the biggest proliferator of “urban hayfever” Diesel cars are making millions of city dwellers’ lives a misery, warns KLEENEX® consultant allergy Dr Adrian Morris.

The pollen binds itself to cars’ exhaust residue, making it more likely to induce hayfever. The heavy diesel exhaust particles then carry the pollen residue deep into people’s airways.

With diesel vehicles currently totalling around 40% of new cars being sold, this is a massive problem for hayfever sufferers, who make up around 60% of the population according to the research carried out by Kleenex.

The revelation comes as nearly 9 in 10 people (86%) said they believed they were safer from the symptoms of hayfever in the city than in the countryside, where the condition was first coined as pollen binds itself to hay.

Dr. Morris explains: “It used to be hay that pollen would bind itself to but what most people don’t know is that today it is the diesel exhaust residue on cars. With the amount of diesel cars constantly increasing, especially in cities, this is a massive problem for the UK’s many hayfever sufferers.

“It’s beneficial to release the pollen from your respiratory system so it’s essential that you’re prepared whenever you’re out and about by taking antihistamines, a pocket pack of tissues and a bottle of water with you at all times.”

Photo from Christina’s Home Remedies

More information: www.kleenex.com and www.christinas-home-remedies.com