Beyond seasonal suffering: Effects of Pollen on Cardiorespiratory Health and Allergies (EPOCHAL)

Scientists are researching the influence of a changing climate on pollen production and allergic diseases. It is not yet understood whether high pollen concentrations are related to the increase of respiratory and cardiovascular disease cases resulting in long hospitalisations or even death.

The EU-funded EPOCHAL project will apply machine learning techniques to investigate how short-term exposure to pollen is associated with allergic symptoms, hospitalisation and death. The project will exploit a network of 14 pollen measurement stations in Switzerland and use available health datasets and systematic data collection methods. Taking into consideration variations in air pollution and climate change conditions, it will also investigate the population effects of pollen as well as individual sensitivity.