Pollen season poses greater risk for people with COPD

A new study, published in the July 2026 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, reveals that pollen season exacerbates the challenges faced by people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The research highlights that increased exposure to pollen can worsen lung function in individuals with COPD, which affects over 30 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death globally.

The study involved 30 former smokers with moderate or severe COPD residing in the Boston area. Participants monitored their lung function at home daily during up to four separate 30-day intervals during the pollen season, resulting in over 1,800 measurements. The findings indicate that higher pollen levels in the three days prior to measuring forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) led to reduced lung function.

Individuals experiencing inflammation or those with both COPD and asthma faced a more significant decline in lung function due to pollen exposure. Moreover, the negative effects were amplified when air pollution was also present. Dr. Mary B. Rice, M.D., MPH, from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the study's senior author, stated that pollen exposure negatively impacts lung function, and when combined with air pollution, the detrimental effects become even more pronounced.

To mitigate the impact of high pollen days, people with COPD can take precautionary measures. These include monitoring pollen forecasts, staying indoors, and utilizing air purifiers. This summary, generated using an LLM, summarizes key findings from the article while adhering to the rules provided.