The temperature is finally climbing. Dirty snowy mountains are melting.
So why are some of us still miserable in New Jersey, with watery eyes, itchy eyes, wheezing, stuffy noses or coughs?
Blame it on snow mold, the microbial threat that lurks beneath the snowpack.
“People don’t understand that there is something called cold weather fungus,” said Dr. Robert Lahita, director of the Autoimmune and Rheumatology Institute at St. Joseph’s Health Center in Wayne. “It thrives in deep melting snow or wet, cold conditions.”
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Mold spores are a type of fungus that, like pollen, is a common trigger of seasonal outdoor allergies. Snow conditions this winter, along with the recent thaw, have created conditions ripe for the spread of spores: The weather is wet and the snow is the perfect incubator for mold to grow on moist grass, leaves and the mulch below.
According to the Rutgers University Cooperative Extension Service, snow mold thrives in moist conditions when temperatures range from 35 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. When the ground emerges, you may see two different fungi: a pink variety called Microdochium nivale and a gray mold, Typhula incarnata.
“Most people don’t know what it is,” Rashita said. “You put all this mold at bay. And then things start melting, freezing, thawing, freezing. It creates a perfect environment for mold.”
What are the symptoms of snow mold allergy?
Doctors often overlook the link between melting snow and allergies, he added. Sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, cough, postnasal drip, or worsening asthma are all potential symptoms.
Who is affected?
People with mold allergies, spring allergies, asthma, and people with weakened immune systems or lung disease are especially sensitive to mold, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.
How to Treat Seasonal Allergies
Health experts recommend rinsing after yard work or shoveling, closing windows on windy days, using HEPA filters indoors, and showering before bed to remove spores from hair and clothing.
Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms with inhalers, anti-inflammatory medications, and decongestants.
“Most of what you do is treat the symptoms,” Rashita said.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Melting snow in New Jersey triggers allergy and asthma attacks caused by snow mold