As Virginia gets inundated with pollen, some scientists blame global warming

Ifyou’renotalreadyoneofthemillionswhosufferfromseasonalallergies,nodoubtyou’veseenthephysicalmanifestationofthethreatglazingyourcarandfrontporch:pollen!It’sback,Virginia.AndscientistsbelieveawarmingEarthismakingitworse. “Youcan’tgokayakingbecausethewaterhasallthepollenonit,”RichmondresidentCassidySnydertoldRadioIQ.“Yougooutside,instantlyyou’retearingup.” Snyderisdescribingherandmillionsofothers’seasonalaffliction:allergiesbroughtonbywhatChesapeakeBayFoundationscientistJoeWooddescribedas: “Manyplantsformofaccomplishingreproduction,”WoodtoldRadioIQ.“Youknowplantscan’tmovearoundsotheyneedtoessentiallybroadcasttheirgeneticmaterial” AndVirginiaiscoveredinthatgeneticmaterial.AccordingtotheAsthmaandAllergyFoundationofAmerica,Richmondisthe8thworstcitytolivewithseasonalallergies. Andwhyisthepollencountsohighnow?It’smorethantheseasonalnatureofplantreproduction,Woodsays