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Dec 22, 2007 6:59 pm US/Central
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Christmas Trees Making Some Sneeze
(WCCO)
Some may be singing "O Christmas tree." For other's it's "Ow, Christmas tree!"
It happens to many of us this time of year: we get the runny, itchy nose, or watery eyes. A new study suggests that your Christmas tree may be carrying a lot more than holiday cheer.
Connie Nompelis is meticulous about her 12-foot-tall tree.
"I've always decorated real Christmas trees since I was kid," she said. "I don't know when I started getting a rash."
Now, Nompelis uses industrial gloves to decorate her tree after finding out she has a potent allergy.
"I notice around Christmastime, I get a lot more hives, even when I don't touch the tree. In fact, I got one just for you right before you showed up," she exclaimed.
According to Dr. Hemalini Mehta, of Allergy & Asthma Specialists, the culprit is often mold sports on live trees.
"I think a lot of people just feel, it's dry or there's probably a lot of dust in the home and that's the reason," Mehta explained.
According to Mehta, researchers are only now finding out how bad the problem can be for some. Researchers found that on day one with a new tree, the mold count was around 800 spores per cubic meter. By day 14, the count had exploded to 5,000.
"That's quite an increase, significant enough that it can cause symptoms," said Mehta.
It's not something anybody would be expected to think about walking through the tree lot and getting caught up in the spirit, but all of those trees have a certain amount of mold on them. Because it is cold outside, the problem doesn't immediately make itself evident.
"But you bring them indoors, put them right next to a warm heating vent, the mold spores release, and there you go, you have a problem," said Mehta.
If you're allergy-free, there are no worries, as the mold will not likely bug you. But 15 percent of Americans are allergic to mold. They are faced with a decision: ditch the real tree or follow Connie's advice.
"I'll wear the gloves, feel a little scratchy," Nompelis said. "That's OK. It's part of Christmas."
Mehta said if you're desperate to have the live tree, try to keep it in the house for only three to five days. That's when the mold count is at its lowest.
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