This research looks at how breathing in pollen at different stages of life may influence the development and worsening of allergic diseases such as hay fever and asthma. It brings together two related studies to explore both long-term and short-term effects of pollen on the immune system.
The first investigation follows children from birth to see whether the amount of pollen they are exposed to during their first year of life is linked to developing allergies later on. This is a critical period when the immune system is still growing and may be more sensitive to the environment.
The second investigation looks at people who already have asthma. It uses information from crowd-sourced smartphone symptom reports to understand how repeated days of high pollen levels may make symptoms worse. The focus is on how timing and intensity of exposure affects the body’s response.
By combining these two studies, the research aims to give a clearer picture of how pollen contributes to allergic disease over time. The goal is to improve early prevention, help people manage symptoms, and support better public health advice during times of high pollen.
