Sal Orlando, Assistant News Editor
Across VCU campus and Richmond, pollen is coating cars, windows, walkways and the nostrils of students — as Richmond was recently ranked in the top 20 most challenging places in America to live in with a pollen allergy. The city’s tree coverage and global climate change contribute to its allergenic status.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America released a report this year classifying Richmond as the 14th harshest place for people with pollen allergies. The report claims climate change may be a reason for pollen spikes across the nation.
“Richmond is at a climatic intersection between north and south, and for that reason we have a number of different tree species that are contributing to the pollen count,” said VCU ecology professor Chris Gough. “The pollen count is particularly high at this time of the year because we have a number of different flowering plants.”
Last year, the AAFA ranked the city as the eighth most challenging city in the country to live in with a pollen allergy.
Gough said the only solution that can alleviate the pollen in the Richmond area is eliminating tree canopy, which he does not think is a good idea.
“Eliminating tree canopy has its downsides, because it would increase the temperatures in the city, particularly during the warmer months,” Gough said. “It would reduce cooling associated with the evaporation of water from plants in the city.”
Richmond lost 2% of tree coverage over the past five years, bringing the city to 43.8% tree coverage, according to the Washington Post. That is still larger than the DMV metropolitan area’s 39.7% coverage or the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area’s 31.5% coverage. New York City’s metropolitan area has 27.5% coverage.
Richmond has higher urban heat problems in areas that were redlined in the 1950s, per a previous report by The CT.
“Climate change results in the pollen coming sooner,” Gough said. “We know that warm temperatures enhance the rate at which plants flower and when they produce flowers, they’re generating pollen, so that’s one effect of climate change. The second is that warmer temperatures can stimulate growth and, part of that growth results in an increase in pollen count.”
Gough said the rising temperatures only affects the flowering of plants to a point, but if it gets too warm too quickly, it will be detrimental to plant growth.
The City of Richmond introduced the RVAgreen 2050 Plan in 2023 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030, and achieve a net zero by 2050. Its five pathways to achieve the goal are through transitioning buildings and energy to become climate neutral, creating an “equitable and resilient” Richmond, investing in natural resources, transitioning to clean mobility and fostering sustainable waste reduction.
Third-year computer science student Ben Barnett said his allergies feel worse when he is in Richmond, as opposed to his hometown in southern Virginia. Though in either location he does not feel limited in what he can do or where he can go.
“My car is just covered in yellow. Even in the parking deck, it still gets yellow,” Barnett said.
First-year cinema student Aiden Schwartz said he developed asthma from the pollen, and recently got an inhaler to help him deal with his allergy.
Another first year cinema student, Gideon Bradner, said his allergies hit him in a surprising manner, and it felt like it was his “last day on earth.”
“The pollen in Richmond kicked my allergies into overdrive, and made up for like three years of not taking allergy medicine,” Bradner said.
As a commuter who lives in a forested area, Bradner is firmly opposed to removing trees in order to alleviate the pollen problem.
The Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU opened a pollen counting station last year, with the hopes of gathering data that will help those who suffer from allergies.
To beat the pollen, VCU Health recommends staying indoors, leaving windows closed, using air conditioners and replacing their filters. Use a high-quality mask while going outdoors, shower and wash your hair before bed each night.