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Per: Climate
Pollutant Reduction Strategy:  Right now, mid-April, there are huge
numbers of Californians who are suffering from airborne allergens,
in particular pollen. Nationwide we are in what is called an
epidemic of allergy, and this phenomenon is urban, not rural.
The allergy/asthma triggering pollen is mostly coming directly from
the planted urban landscape. Trees are commonly still sold in
California that are exceptionally allergenic...in areas with
pollen-control ordinances, these would not be allowed to be sold or
planted.
  For each highly allergenic tree/shrub, there is another
allergy-free or low-allergen choice. Climate change is resulting in
more pollen production, making it ever more important that we make
smarter choices in what we plant in our cities.
  The Ca air quality board has pretty much just ignored urban
pollen, but it is a perfectly real air quality problem, affects
very large numbers of people, and as the board does nothing, the
situation gets worse.
The time is well past that the board should become much more
informed about allergy-friendly landscaping, and then start to do
something, anything, to deal with this issue.