Sneezing city: an allergenic tree mapping project

Project lead: Michela Mariani

Pollen allergies, or hay fever, are a growing concern for residents in Nottingham, particularly in light of climate change, which may intensify allergenic symptoms and duration of exposure. This project aims to identify high-risk areas for pollen exposure by mapping the distribution of allergenic pollen and gathering public perceptions. The goal is to better inform healthcare professionals and support public health responses.  

To achieve this, the project implemented a two-pronged data collection approach: environmental monitoring and public engagement. Pollen traps were strategically installed across Nottingham, ensuring city-wide and ward-level coverage. These devices collected data on allergenic tree pollen during the spring season. Hot-spot analyses revealed preliminary patterns of high pollen loadings associated with specific tree species. Although limited by the project’s short duration, these early findings show clear patterns in the mapping, which can be linked to tree density, distribution and/or atmospheric pollution providing an extra surface for pollen grains to clump on.  

In parallel, public perceptions were assessed through an online survey. Residents were invited to share their allergy symptoms, describe their emotional responses in one word, and compare the current allergy season to previous years. The general feelings reported centre around anger and tiredness. This approach allowed the project to integrate scientific data with real-life experiences, highlighting the human impact of pollen allergies in the city.  

Additionally, the team engaged directly with healthcare professionals to ensure the findings could be translated into actionable insights for medical practice and will share allergenic pollen maps to NHS and UKSHA staff. While further data and extended monitoring are needed, this interdisciplinary method shows promise in identifying allergen exposure hotspots and improving public health strategies in response to pollen allergies in Nottingham.