Live Christmas Trees Can Trigger Mold Allergies

Live Christmas Trees Can Trigger Mold Allergies
FRIDAY, Nov. 16 (HealthDay News) -- While bringing home a liveChristmas tree marks the beginning of the holiday season for many, themold that thrives on its branches can trigger weeks of suffering for some,a new study shows.
Connecticut researchers have found that the mold count from a liveChristmas tree rose to five times the normal level two weeks after thetree was brought indoors, and that can prove problematic for people withmold allergies. Their research was presented this week at the AmericanCollege of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology annual meeting, in Dallas.
"Christmas trees are another possible source of mold exposure duringthe holiday season," said study co-author Philip Hemmers, an allergist andimmunologist with St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, Conn. "Moldallergies peak in the fall, and we see a second peak with a lot of ourmold-sensitive patients during the holiday season. Our finding correlateswith this second peak of mold sensitivity."
The researchers studied the mold growth of a live Christmas tree in ahouse in Connecticut. Mold reproduce by releasing spores into the air, soafter the live Christmas tree was brought inside the house and decorated,the researchers measured mold spore counts. These counts were taken 12times over a two-week period between Dec. 24 and Jan. 6. The researchersdid not assess the types of mold or whether these molds triggered allergicsymptoms in people living in the house.
The study found that the mold spore count was 800 spores per squaremeter (m3) for the first three days. Normal spore counts are less than1,000 spores/m3, said Hemmers. However, the spore count rose after dayfour, reaching a maximum of 5,000 spores/m3 by day 14.
"This mold spore count is five times above normal. These high levelshave been correlated with allergic rhinitis and an increased rate ofasthma symptoms and asthma-related hospitalization in other studies," saidHemmers. "So if you don't feel well during the holidays, consider theChristmas tree as a possible source of allergies."
Hemmers recommended that people with mold sensitivity keep a liveChristmas tree in the house for only four to seven days. An artificialtree may be a better option for people with mold allergies, he added, butthey carry their own set of problems, especially if they've been stored inthe attic or basement where they can collect dust and mold.
Although Christmas trees are not a problem for most people withallergies, said Dr. David Khan, an associate professor of internalmedicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas,there are things you can do to minimize their impact.
"If one is mold-allergic, running an air cleaner in the same room asthe tree could theoretically reduce the mold exposure, but this has notbeen studied," he said. "For some people who are sensitive to odors, thearoma from the tree, which most people like, could irritate their nose andcause symptoms. For these people, avoiding live trees may be best."
Before people start avoiding live Christmas trees because of their moldgrowth, more research needs to be done, said Dr. Dennis Ownby, a professorof pediatrics and medicine at the Medical College of Georgia, in Augusta.Since this study only looked at a single tree in one home, more homes withtrees should be investigated, as well as the types of mold found andwhether those molds trigger allergies. He added that the researchersshould also measure mold counts outside the home and correlate those toindoor mold counts.
Hemmers said that the outdoor mold count was likely low, since thestudy was done during the winter. The research team does plan to dofurther work this Christmas season by looking at more homes and the typesof mold found.
In addition to Christmas trees, there are other potential holidayallergens, said Dr. James Sublett, section chief of Pediatric Allergy atthe University of Louisville School of Medicine in Kentucky. These caninclude foods consumed at holiday parties, such as nuts and shellfish, andChristmas ornaments and lights that have been contaminated with dust ormold.
"Store Christmas decorations in plastic containers that you can wipeoff, since cardboard can potentially have mold," he advised. "Also wear aN95 dust mask when bringing stuff out of storage."