The temperature is gradually warming up, and many areas in the north are entering the peak pollen season. In recent days, the issue of "Beijing cypress pollen causing allergies" has attracted attention. A netizen asked, "Can we cut off all the round cypress trees?" "If my nose is blocked, what should I do with pollen?" In response, the reporter interviewed relevant officials from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Landscape and Greening, experts in the landscape industry, medical staff, and others. Pollen transmission enters its peak period, and in spring, all things revive, and plants also enter their breeding season. Juniperus and other cypress trees gradually bloom, and pollen dissemination follows a synchronous "high-level operation". According to data from Beijing Tongren Hospital, during the spring pollen dispersal period, the number of outpatient patients with allergy related symptoms increases compared to usual. And this year's pollen season is about a week earlier than usual. It is reported that there are two main peak periods for pollen in the Beijing area: from late March to late April, dominated by pollen from trees such as the cypress family; From late August to late September, the pollen of herbaceous plants such as Houttuynia and Artemisia is the main source. The spread of pollen is greatly affected by meteorological factors such as temperature and precipitation, as well as the urban heat island effect and wind direction. During the same period in Beijing, the pollen concentration was higher in urban areas than in suburban areas, and higher in the southwest than in the northeast. In recent days, the topic of allergies caused by cypress has repeatedly topped the hot list on online platforms. Some netizens are curious: can we cut down all the round cypress trees? Cong Richen, a professor level senior engineer at the Beijing Academy of Landscape and Greening Sciences, said that Juniperus is a native tree species in Beijing with strong vitality and high carbon sequestration value. Especially, it remains evergreen throughout the year, adding a touch of greenery to the "bare" winter season in the north. Research has found that the scientific planting ratio of evergreen and deciduous trees at the latitude where Beijing is located is about 3:7, so it is necessary to ensure a certain amount of evergreen trees. In addition, some other common tree species are also allergens, and cutting them down will lead to ecological and environmental problems. Pollen cannot be completely eradicated, but it can be targeted for management. "A clever trick for pollen management. In the Red Scarf Park located on the East Fourth Ring Road in Beijing, reporters saw a water truck with flashing taillights and slowly moving forward. The staff standing on the truck held high-pressure water guns to carry out flushing operations on the cypress, and the pollen continuously fell to the ground along the water flow. On the other side, the garden staff trimmed the branches with more flowers. Zhang Bo, Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Department of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Landscape and Greening, said that in order to reduce the inconvenience of pollen on citizens' lives, the landscaping department is working hard to reduce pollen concentration. For example, in combination with daily maintenance, measures such as pruning flower branches, watering and spraying, and wetting the ground are being taken to reduce the amount of pollen scattered on cypress and other tree species, and timely clean up the pollen scattered on the ground after wetting. We require units with high density of cypress trees, such as parks, to focus on conducting flushing operations from 1pm to 3pm in the afternoon. The source management is working simultaneously. Zhang Bo introduced that Beijing has previously revised the "List of Major Trees in Beijing", removing plants of the genus Juniperus (including Juniperus). In the future, landscaping projects will strictly control the planting amount of related tree species and scientifically update and replace easily allergenic tree species in key areas. At the same time, research institutions such as the Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences are organized to carry out technological breakthroughs in pollen management, select and breed pollen free or low pollen plant varieties, and verify the feasibility of artificially regulating the number of cone flowers in cypress plants. How to protect against pollen allergy? Pollen allergy may cause symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and coughing. According to the analysis of interviewed experts, with global climate change and the increase in carbon dioxide concentration, the production of allergenic pollen has increased and the pollen dispersal period has been prolonged. Wind pollinating plants such as poplar, willow, and cypress release a large amount of pollen in spring. At the same time, changes in people's lifestyles, such as long-term indoor work and life, changes in dietary structure, and reduced outdoor activities, have led to immune dysfunction. All of these factors have led to a high incidence of allergies. Zhang Luo, the director of Beijing Tongren Hospital, said that during the allergy season, physiological saline can be used to flush the nasal cavity. When the nasal allergy symptoms are mild, some nasal medications can be used for treatment. If the symptoms are more important, seek medical attention in a timely manner and take oral medication according to medical advice for treatment. For patients with clear and severe pollen allergies, it is recommended to start medication two weeks before the pollen season according to medical advice to control symptoms in a timely manner. Generally, medication should be continued until the end of the pollen season. In addition to timely treatment for allergy symptoms, prevention is equally important. Wei Hongzheng, Deputy Chief Physician of the Allergy Department at Beijing Tongren Hospital, stated that individuals with seasonal pollen allergies should pay more attention to pollen monitoring and forecasting, and try to avoid going out when pollen concentrations are high. When going out, pay attention to protection and wear masks, eye masks, veils, etc. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure good and sufficient sleep, a balanced diet, and scientific and moderate exercise to continuously improve one's immune system. (New Society)