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While sunshine can bring smiles for some, it can bring suffering for others. Spring is not only the start of warmer weather but the beginning of allergy season, which has only become longer in recent years.

Why it matters: Climate change and warmer springs are causing plants to produce higher concentrations of pollen for longer periods of time.

What they're saying: "We're seeing allergy seasons become more intense and lasting longer," said Dilawar Khokhar, a clinical assistant professor at the Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the University of Washington.

"We used to think of ragweed as kind of ending in August, but now ragweed season can extend into September."

Flashback: Last year, Everett was the pollen capital of the West Coast. The city's pollen count increased by 54% from 3,489 parts per million in 2022 to 5,386 ppm in 2023, per a study by online allergy clinic Wyndly.

Seattle recorded its highest pollen count — 1,998 ppm — last May.

Zoom in: There are three types of pollen: tree, grass and weed.

Tree pollen begins to infiltrate the air starting in late February through the end of April — the start of the annual reproductive cycle for evergreens — and grass pollen season begins shortly after.

Threat level: The Puget Sound region's comparatively high density of trees — including cedar, juniper, alder, elm, maple, birch and cottonwood — creates a perfect storm for allergy sufferers at the onset of warmer weather.

Washington produces much of the country's supply of Kentucky bluegrass turf seed, meaning grass pollen is likely heavily present in the air during peak growing season.

Grass pollen levels peak in May and June, when people most often feel allergies — symptoms like sneezing, itchy nose, watery eyes and nasal congestion.

Increased pollen levels can also exacerbate asthma symptoms, causing wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing for some.

The intrigue: Allergy season in Seattle increased by 17 days on average between 1970 and 2021, per an analysis from Climate Central, a nonprofit climate news organization.

That's based on the number of days between the last freeze each spring and the first freeze each fall.

What they found: Allergic rhinitis, the technical term for hay fever, "is arguably the most expensive medical condition in the U.S., because of the vast number of people that are affected," Shyam Joshi, an allergist at Oregon Health & Science University, told Axios.

It's likely that with more exposure to allergens and pollution, more people are developing allergies over time, he added.

The bottom line: Reduce the amount of allergens on your person by changing your clothes and washing your hands and face after being outside.

Close your windows at night and while you're driving.

Consider investing in a HEPA air filter for your bedroom.

If that is not enough, Joshi recommends steroid nose sprays like Flonase over antihistamine tablets.

How climate change impacts Seattle's allergy season

As springs get warmer, allergy symptoms could last longer.

Illustration of tiny toy people climbing up a mountain of pollen with a large flower growing from the middle

While sunshine can bring smiles for some, it can bring suffering for others. Spring is not only the start of warmer weather but the beginning of allergy season, which has only <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="become longer in recent years" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/05/12/seattle-allergy-season-data" data-vars-content-id="4dfbb522-5cb7-41a4-a80e-d1e5124fee50" data-vars-headline="How climate change impacts Seattle&#x27;s allergy season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/05/12/seattle-allergy-season-data" target="_self">become longer in recent years</a>.Why it matters: Climate change and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="warmer springs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2024/03/12/spring-sun-weather-seattle" data-vars-content-id="4dfbb522-5cb7-41a4-a80e-d1e5124fee50" data-vars-headline="How climate change impacts Seattle&#x27;s allergy season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2024/03/12/spring-sun-weather-seattle" target="_self">warmer springs</a> are causing plants to produce higher concentrations of pollen for longer periods of time.

News

West Coast bees face a new threat from a highly contagious bacterial disease that seems to thrive among blueberries, but Washington researchers will be among those leading the charge against it.

Driving the news: In the most extensive study of its kind, scientists from across the West Coast will survey more than 1,500 honeybee hives in Washington, Oregon and California to determine why European foulbrood disease is leading to a persistent decline of the essential pollinators, according to Washington State University professor Brandon Hopkins.

Researchers with WSU, Oregon State University and the University of California, Davis, will follow dozens of commercial beekeepers as they travel with their hives to pollinate crops throughout the U.S. — starting in February with the almond crops in California.

Why it matters: Beekeepers have been aware of European foulbrood disease for decades. However, its rapid resurgence over the last few years has caused many to worry about the disease's potential to harm commercial food production of bee-dependent crops throughout the country. 

What they're saying: "When it hits, it seems to come from nowhere," Hopkins told Axios.

What's happening: In December, OSU received a $4.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to lead a four-year study on what stress factors make bees more susceptible to the disease, including malnutrition and climate.

Researchers will collect genetic samples from each hive to determine if there's evidence of infection — and, if so, from which strain — while monitoring each colony's population.

Researchers will also note climate, weather patterns and availability of pollen and nectar in hopes of figuring out how bees contract foulbrood, Ramesh Sagili, an apiculturist and professor of agriculture at Oregon State University, told Axios.

Researchers will also look at other factors, including beekeeping operations and the diversity of colonies, to understand further why some colonies are hit and others spared, said Hopkins.

The intrigue: When commercial beekeepers return to their home states after helping to pollinate orchards, there's "good correlational data at this point where we see the hives that go to blueberries are the ones showing high incidence of disease," Sagili said.

Washington State University researcher Brandon Hopkins. Photo: Courtesy of Brandon Hopkins/Washington State University 

Zoom in: Washington and Oregon are the country's top producers of blueberries, which start to bloom in early April and May, when both states see low temperatures and lots of rain.

How it works: Bees infected with the bacterial disease — caused by the bacterium Melissococcus plutonius — can quickly spread it to larvae, causing eggs to appear melted, shrunken, deflated, rubbery or dehydrated, and threatening the whole comb.

The bottom line: As foulbrood spreads, hives become smaller and weaker, and the bees cannot pollinate the millions of acres needed to sustain a region's food supply.

There's a high probability of cascading impacts on several bee-dependent crops (like carrots, clover, turnips and more) and researchers hope to quantify economic damages soon.

West Coast researchers drill down on bee disease

Washington State University professors will be part of the four-year survey, the largest study of its kind.

A bee searchers for pollen in blueberry blossoms. 

A bee searches for pollen in blossoms of blueberries. Photo: Bernd Weißbrod/picture alliance via Getty Images

West Coast bees face a new threat from a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="highly contagious bacterial disease" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/05/usda-approves-honeybee-vaccine-world-first" data-vars-content-id="58449eeb-6074-48fb-95b1-a821c9c53fdf" data-vars-headline="West Coast researchers drill down on bee disease" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/05/usda-approves-honeybee-vaccine-world-first" target="_self">highly contagious bacterial disease</a> that seems to thrive among blueberries, but Washington researchers will be among those leading the charge against it.Driving the news: In the most extensive study of its kind, scientists from across the West Coast will survey more than 1,500 honeybee hives in Washington, Oregon and California to determine why European foulbrood disease is leading to a persistent decline of the essential pollinators, according to Washington State University professor Brandon Hopkins.

Seattle-area restaurants and chefs were shut of the James Beard Awards in Chicago Monday for the third year in a row. 

Why it matters: Despite a full slate of outstanding nominees, Seattle failed to take home one of the culinary scene's most prestigious awards. 

The big picture: The James Beard Foundation — named for the iconic Portland-born food writer and chef — gives out 22 awards annually, spotlighting the crème de la crème in categories like baking, hospitality, wine, restaurant and regional chef.

Driving the news: Five Seattle-area chefs and restaurants made this year's list of finalists:

Janet Becerra of Pancita in Ravenna was up for Emerging Chef but lost out to Masako Morishita of Perry's in Washington, D.C.

Quynh-Vy and Yenvy Pham (Pho Bac Sup Shop, The Boat and Phocific Standard Time) were finalists in the Outstanding Restaurateur category for the second year in a row. 

"It's wild," Pham told the Associated Press last week. "It's a great honor."

Context: Melissa Miranda of Musang, Kristi Brown of Communion and Avery Adams of Matia Kitchen were up for the Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific award.

But Gregory Gourdet of Kann in Portland, which won Best New Restaurant in 2023, took home the Best Chef Northwest award this year. 

What they're saying: Interviewed on the red carpet before the awards, Brown of Communion told Axios that, win or lose, Seattle's rich landscape of diverse fare "deserves to be recognized."

Between the lines: Whether or not our contenders this year took home an award, they made it off the list of semifinalists, a résumé-worthy feat on its own. 

You can see Seattle's long list of James Beard nominees over the years as well as all of this year's winners here. 

Seattle shut out of James Beard Awards again

Known as the Oscars of food, the James Beard Awards are the most coveted culinary kudos.

Illustration of a chef's toque deflating into a sad balloon.

Seattle-area <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="restaurants and chefs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2024/04/04/morning-buzz-james-beard-finalists" data-vars-content-id="5de23b6b-2162-4f4e-a41e-4c65a40b1986" data-vars-headline="Seattle shut out of James Beard Awards again" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2024/04/04/morning-buzz-james-beard-finalists" target="_self">restaurants and chefs</a> were shut of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="James Beard Awards" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2024/06/04/the-james-beard-awards-process-revealed" data-vars-content-id="5de23b6b-2162-4f4e-a41e-4c65a40b1986" data-vars-headline="Seattle shut out of James Beard Awards again" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2024/06/04/the-james-beard-awards-process-revealed" target="_self">James Beard Awards</a> in Chicago Monday for the third year in a row. Why it matters: Despite a full slate of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="outstanding nominees" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2024/01/24/james-beard-semifinalists-2024" data-vars-content-id="5de23b6b-2162-4f4e-a41e-4c65a40b1986" data-vars-headline="Seattle shut out of James Beard Awards again" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2024/01/24/james-beard-semifinalists-2024" target="_self">outstanding nominees</a>, Seattle failed to take home one of the culinary scene&#x27;s most prestigious awards.

Food and Drink

More and more older adults are using cannabis now, which could be a boon for Washington's estimated $1.4 billion industry.

Why it matters: As more states legalize marijuana, the barrier for consuming cannabis — in all of its many forms — has become lower, sparking interest among older folks interested in pain relief and recreation.

By the numbers: In Washington, the share of people 65 and older who said they'd used cannabis within the last 30 days has increased from 0.7% in 2011 (the year before weed was legalized) to 9.4% in 2021, the most recent year for which the state Department of Health has data.

That's not the age group with the highest percentage of users, but it is the only age group that has seen a steady incline, per the DOH data provided to Axios.

Washingtonians ages 25–34 had the highest usage rates in 2021, with 26.7% saying they'd used cannabis within the last 30 days, but that was down from 28.8% in 2019.

Zoom out: Nationally, 8.4% of people age 65 or older said in 2022 they had used marijuana in the past 12 months, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

That's a significant increase from about 0.4% of seniors who reported using it when polled in 2007.

A 2021 survey found that a majority of seniors who had used marijuana in the last three months did so for medical purposes.

The number of older adults using cannabis as alternatives to prescription drugs is expected to continue rising, according to a report by the University of Washington's Addictions, Drug and Alcohol Institute.

Meanwhile, the widespread presence of CBD, which can be found as balms, gummies and even sparkling water in grocery stores, may also make seniors feel confident enough to visit dispensaries.

Catch up quick: Washington and Colorado made history in 2012, becoming the first two states to legalize and regulate marijuana for adults 21 and over.

Now there are more than 450 dispensaries across Washington, including trendy, modern spaces and side-of-the-road drive-thrus.

The big picture: Earlier this month, Ohioans voted to legalize marijuana for recreational use, making it the 24th state to allow adult cannabis use for non-medical purposes, writes Axios' Jacob Knutson.

Thirty-eight states allow marijuana use for medicinal purposes.

Federally, the drug remains illegal despite shifting public sentiment and a lengthy bipartisan push in Congress.

The Department of Health and Human Services recently recommended that the substance be reclassified to a lower-risk category under the Controlled Substances Act.

Of note: The uptick in usage among older people comes as marijuana use has become more common for all age groups. The increase could stem in part from decreasing social stigma around the drug.

The bottom line: The percentage of folks 65 and over using cannabis will keep climbing as the stigma surrounding the drug continues to decrease in popular culture, Beau Whitney, chief economist at Pacific Northwest-based cannabis consulting company Whitney Economics, told Axios.

"It will peak out at some point," he said. "We just haven't reached the peak yet."

More older Washingtonians are using cannabis

The percentage of  Washington residents 65 and older using cannabis has grown steadily since legalization.

Illustration of weekly pill case with marijuana leaves labels.

More and more older adults are using <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cannabis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/28/landmark-cannabis-banking-bill-scores-a-win" data-vars-content-id="61d7bc3a-839e-4f71-968c-9bbc177c7ff5" data-vars-headline="More older Washingtonians are using cannabis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/28/landmark-cannabis-banking-bill-scores-a-win" target="_self">cannabis</a> now, which could be a boon for Washington&#x27;s estimated <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$1.4 billion" data-vars-click-url="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1076951/retail-cannabis-sales-in-washington/#:~:text=Retail%20cannabis%20sales%20in%20Washington%20from%202015%20to%202022&amp;text=In%202022%2C%20retail%20sales%20reached%201.4%20billion%20U.S.%20dollars." data-vars-content-id="61d7bc3a-839e-4f71-968c-9bbc177c7ff5" data-vars-headline="More older Washingtonians are using cannabis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1076951/retail-cannabis-sales-in-washington/#:~:text=Retail%20cannabis%20sales%20in%20Washington%20from%202015%20to%202022&amp;text=In%202022%2C%20retail%20sales%20reached%201.4%20billion%20U.S.%20dollars." target="_blank">$1.4 billion</a> industry.Why it matters: As more <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="states legalize marijuana" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/08/ohio-legalizes-weed-marijuana-law-issue-2" data-vars-content-id="61d7bc3a-839e-4f71-968c-9bbc177c7ff5" data-vars-headline="More older Washingtonians are using cannabis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/08/ohio-legalizes-weed-marijuana-law-issue-2" target="_self">states legalize marijuana</a>, the barrier for consuming cannabis — in all of its many forms — has become lower, sparking interest among older folks interested in pain relief and recreation.

Meira Gebel

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