Hay fever already affects around 20% of people in the UK—and that number is expected to rise sharply. A 2024 University of Manchester study found that cases have increased by 33% in the last 20 years, a trend driven in part by climate change, along with urbanisation and pollution.

The World Health Organization now classifies allergies as a global health concern, predicting that by 2050, half of the EU’s population could suffer from chronic allergies. Why? Rising CO₂ levels are fueling pollen production, and shifting seasons are extending the pollen calendar, making allergy risks more intense and longer-lasting.

But are people in cities more at risk than those in the countryside? And what can you do to protect yourself from worsening symptoms?

In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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A Bababam Originals podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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