Rising pollen levels pose deadly risk for older adults
As climate change intensifies pollen seasons across the country, new research from the University of Michigan reveals a connection between pollen exposure and death rates among older adults with breathing problems.
The study, published in BMC Public Health, shows that high pollen days aren't just an inconvenience for allergy sufferers — they could pose serious health risks for vulnerable populations. With pollen seasons growing longer and more intense, understanding these risks has become increasingly urgent for public health officials and health care providers.
The details
The team, made up of researchers affiliated with the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health, Institute for Social Research, and College of Engineering, analyzed death records in Michigan from 2006 to 2017, focusing on deaths related to breathing problems. They looked at four types of pollen: deciduous tree pollen (from trees that lose their leaves), evergreen tree pollen, grass pollen, and ragweed pollen. Using advanced computer models, they estimated daily pollen levels across Michigan and studied how exposure to high pollen levels affected death rates over different time periods, from same-day effects up to two weeks later.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that exposure to certain types of pollen can increase the risk of death from breathing-related problems, particularly for people with chronic conditions. This is especially concerning because climate change is expected to make pollen seasons more severe in the coming years.
“As pollen levels continue to rise and seasons get longer, more people may face serious health risks, especially older adults with existing breathing problems,” says Peter Larson, first author of the study and a research investigator in the Department of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health.
Bottom line
High levels of certain pollen, particularly from deciduous trees and ragweed, were linked to increased risk of death from breathing problems. The effects could last up to two weeks after exposure.
While not everyone is equally sensitive to pollen, these findings highlight the importance of tracking pollen levels and taking precautions during high pollen days, especially for older adults with breathing problems.
Study: “Chronic and infectious respiratory mortality and short-term exposures to four types of pollen taxa in older adults in Michigan, 2006-2017,” BMC Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21386-3
Additional authors: Allison Steiner, University of Michigan College of Engineering; Marie O’Neill and Carina Gronlund, University of Michigan School of Public Health; Alan Baptist, University of Michigan School of Public Health and Henry Ford Health
Media Contact
Destiny Cook
PR and Communications ManagerUniversity of Michigan School of Public Health734-647-8650