holidayโ Health Alert: Real Christmas Trees May Trigger Mold Allergies, But Artificial Options Aren’t Risk-Free
PARIS, FRANCE โ- As the โคholiday season approaches, health experts are issuing a reminder that โขboth real and artificial Christmas trees can pose risksโ to indoor airโฃ quality and โคpotentially trigger โallergic reactions.
Dr. Victoria Nguyen notes that freshly cut fir trees can โฃharbor dormant mold spores thatโ become โขactive in โขwarmer indoor environments, leading โto a condition sometimes called “Christmas tree syndrome.” Symptoms canโค include itchy eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion, and difficulty breathing, often mimicking a โcoldโ orโฃ the โflu.A studyโข published inโฃ Annals of Allergy, โฃAsthma & Immunology โ identifiedโ 53 types of mold present in 26 different โChristmas trees. The longer a tree remains indoors, โฃtheโข higher the concentration of mold particles andโข the greater the risk of allergicโข response.
However,switching to an artificialโ tree isn’t necessarily a healthier choice.โ Bryan Cummings, a researcherโฃ at Drexel University’s College of Engineering, points out that artificial โฃtrees frequently enough contain plastics and PVCs, including โฃphthalates – chemical plasticizers that can be released into the air.Prolonged exposure to these compounds may cause โคrespiratory or allergic problems and contribute to indoor pollution, as reported by HuffPost.
Nonetheless โof the โtree type chosen, Dr.โ Nguyen โrecommends โthoroughly washing andโข drying the tree โoutdoors before bringing it inside. She also advises rinsing decorations and utilizing air purifiers.
For those experiencing allergy โsymptoms, over-the-counter medications like antihistamines or โขnasal sprays may provide relief. Persistent allergies may warrant considerationโ of immunotherapy, such as โsublingual tablets or injections, though these treatments typically require a two-to-five-year commitment โfor optimal results.
