Wormwood and ragweed pollen surge in Almaty, Kazakh scientist warns allergy sufferers

Allergy sufferers in Almaty are facing a difficult season as wormwood pollen levels surge, according to Kazakh scientist Kaysar Tabynov. He reported that wormwood pollination began actively on August 8, with concentrations reaching 95 grains per cubic meter by the next day – a level considered high and capable of causing symptoms like runny noses, sneezing, and itchy eyes.

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Over the week, wormwood accounted for 37.8 percent of all plant pollen detected in Almaty's air; combined with ragweed, this figure reached nearly 51 percent. If you suffer from a wormwood allergy, you have likely already felt the effects.

Tabynov, who leads weekly pollen monitoring at the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, noted that wormwood accounted for over 37 percent of all plant pollen in Almaty's air during the week. When combined with ragweed, which also persists at high levels, these allergens make up nearly 51 percent of the airborne pollen. This dual burden is particularly challenging for the 30-50 percent of wormwood allergy patients who are also sensitized to ragweed.

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In Almaty, approximately 30-50 percent of patients allergic to wormwood are also sensitized to ragweed (meaning the immune system recognizes ragweed pollen as an allergen and reacts to it, Ed.). Consequently, these individuals may experience a double burden.

To manage the allergic burden, Professor Tabynov recommends that individuals with allergies closely follow pollen forecasts. He advises limiting outdoor activities during peak pollination times and continuing with any prescribed maintenance therapy. The monitoring team, using specialized traps for accurate quantitative analysis, will continue their observations and keep residents informed about air quality.

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Currently, this is the most accurate method for the quantitative determination of plant pollen in the air. We are conducting this work for scientific purposes.