The Science Behind Our Sneezes: The Hidden Power of Pollen

By Briana Ahmad

Edited by Isabella Phillips

Published 7/14/2026

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Spring has sprung in an escape from winter’s icy clutches. However, instead of breezy skies and sunny weather, people have been met with sneezes, coughs, itchy noses, and cars enveloped in a blanket of yellow dust. What is to be blamed for these seasonal annoyances? 

The archnemesis of this dilemma is none other than pollen. The mixture of warmer weather conditions and winds create the perfect atmosphere for the spread of pollen— the male fertilizing agent for flowering plants, trees, grasses, and weeds. Pollen is produced in the male counterpart or the anther of a plant and is transported via wind or pollinators such as bees or other insects. Once this grain of pollen lands on the female counterpart, or the ovule, the process of fertilization begins. The ovule eventually grows a seed that will grow a new plant, restarting the reproductive process. In trees such as oak, pine, and maple, the process of pollination takes around a year to finish. 

Friend to Plants, Foe to Humans

As necessary as pollen is to the growth of plants, it continually wreaks havoc on humans every season, sending people into fits of sneezes and coughs. Pollen allergies, also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, triggers the immune system to produce IgE (immunoglobulin E) antibodies, treating the harmless pollen particles like foreign bodies. This process is called sensitization or when the allergen makes its first encounter with the human body. Upon exposure with the allergen again, the immune cells recognize this seemingly dangerous intruder and release histamines that cause sore throats, coughing, runny noses, and watery eyes. According to the CDC, seasonal allergies are extremely common, with an estimated 80+ million people in the US reportedly suffering from the bothersome substance. 

A Longer, Stronger Pollen Season

Due to climate change and varying levels of temperature, pollen has been getting worse. The ground begins to thaw earlier in the season allowing trees and other flowering plants to be introduced earlier in the spring. Moreover, increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, a significant greenhouse gas, is contributing to the rise of pollen production levels. In a recent study, trees are producing over 20% more pollen and the pollen season is approximately three weeks longer than it was 50 years ago. 

Beating the Yellow Blanket

Even so, pollen does not have to be your foe this season. Antihistamines like Zyretec or Allegara work by blocking the chemical histamine that causes all those nasty symptoms. Other medications like nasal sprays can aid in reducing inflammation in the nasal passageways which relieve congestion and improve air flow. Simple changes to habits can also combat high pollen levels. Removing all outside clothing immediately once you are in your house and keeping track of pollen levels in your community are easy ways to limit the effects of pollen. Most importantly, your healthcare provider can recommend the best treatments and pinpoint the type of pollen making you sick. 

Welcoming Spring

With the help of medicine and lifestyle changes, the wrath of spring can be much more bearable and you can finally enjoy basking in the sunlight. Pollen is certainly annoying, but it shouldn’t take away from the emergence of beautiful weather and new beginnings spring has to offer.