Scientists: transport exacerbates seasonal allergies
Along roads with heavy traffic plants-allergens spread with record speed.
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Ambrosia is a very dangerous weed-allergen that in the early 21st century is actively spread in the South-West of Russia. Its pollen causes hay fever.
In a recent study, scientists were able to establish that the rapid spread of the weed contributes to vehicular traffic. Their findings will be published in the journal of Applied Ecology.
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The researchers conducted a field study with marked ultraviolet radiation seeds. They were scattered along the road and returned 48 hours later with UV lamps. During this time, the seeds of ambrosia has moved a significant distance. Along the highways with the heavy traffic of seeds picked up by the air currents, flew at 40-70 meters.
Within two years, scientists have mapped these areas of distribution. As it turned out, along busy roads and subsequent harvest of ambrosia was two times higher than along roads with low traffic.
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This is the first scientific study that traces the connections between the spread of dangerous plants and car traffic. It shows that allergens can be greatly improved, if the services will be in time to get rid of roadside weeds.
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