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Where you are when a bout of sneezing starts, as well as the time of day, can provide clues to identify your allergy triggers. For example, if you suffer from airborne allergy symptoms when you are out in countryside then, for you, pollen is most likely a trigger. If this affects you for quite a large part of the spring and summer, then you may be allergic to more than one sort of pollen. There are several triggers that can affect you in the garden. Mowing the lawn throws grass pollen into the air, digging or potting out plants can release mould spores from the soil.

If you are more prone to airborne allergy symptoms at about the same time each year, then the chances are that you are sensitive to pollen or mould spores. The time of year when you suffer symptoms might give you a good indication of which particular types of pollen are causing the problem.

Hayfever seasons
Hayfever seasons vary from year to year depending on the weather. Nevertheless, this calendar shows when you are most likely to encounter the most common allergens in the UK.

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Moulds and fungi reproduce by sending out showers of spores into the air. About 20% of people who suffer from airborne allergies are affected by these mould spores. Most will be allergic to more common triggers too and so, for them, the mould allergy is an additional complication rather than the main cause of symptoms. Moulds can grow anywhere, indoors and out. They are most at home in damp conditions - the kitchen and bathroom and in wooden window frames, the soil of houseplants and under wallpaper throughout the house. Outside, moulds are plentiful in the soil, in rotting wood and leaves, grass cuttings and compost heaps.

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In fact it’s not dust that causes the problem, but a tiny creature called the house dust mite, also known as Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. House dust mites are almost always present in house dust, even in the most clean and tidy homes. In a way, they serve a useful purpose in disposing of skin debris in house dust. Its first name 'Dermatophagoides' is simply Latin for 'skin eating'.

Despite its rather fierce appearance under a microscope, the house dust mite does not bite: it eats the skin flakes that make up a large percentage of house dust. The mite is so small that it is impossible to see with the naked eye.
The house dust mite is 80% water and needs a humid environment in which to thrive. They mostly like damp and dusty spots and these can be found somewhere in virtually every home. The house dust mite or, in fact, its waste products or droppings, are the most common trigger of airborne allergy.

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Cats, in particular, cause allergies but dogs and rabbits too can trigger the itching and sneezing of airborne allergy.

For most people, it is not the fur itself that causes the allergy problem. Dander, the name given to the mixture of small particles of fur, skin scales (like dandruff) and saliva is the actual cause. In cats, for example, a particular protein found in cats’ saliva causes an allergic reaction in many sufferers of airborne allergy.

Because cats groom themselves so thoroughly, the saliva finds it way onto carpets, furniture and other surfaces. In 40% of people who have airborne allergies affecting their nose their pet is a trigger.

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With so many airborne allergy sufferers allergic either to house dust mite or to pollen, a very high proportion, over 50% of all airborne allergy sufferers, will be allergic to both. In practical terms this will mean that they may suffer airborne allergy symptoms all year round, with symptoms becoming noticeably worse during the pollen season.

In addition to these common allergy triggers there are other factors in the environment that can make life difficult for airborne allergy sufferers.

Air pollution
High concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and other chemicals that find their way into the atmosphere can irritate the nose and airways even in those who do not suffer from airborne allergy. One of the effects of the late phase allergic response is to make the nasal passages more sensitive to irritants - something called nasal hyper-responsiveness.

Other irritants
Smoke (particularly tobacco), strong smells, perfumes, changes in temperature, or humidity can all provoke symptoms in people who have developed this extra sensitivity (nasal hyper-responsiveness).

Diesel fumes
Importantly, there is another factor concerning irritants and pollution in the air. As well as provoking symptoms, by weakening the delicate nasal lining, irritants may increase susceptibility to allergy triggers. Research has shown that diesel particles in the air make people more sensitive to an allergy trigger.

Air-conditioned atmospheres
Air-conditioned atmospheres that suck chemicals, dust and pollution from outside, can make allergic reactions worse. Chemicals, pollution from outside, changes in temperature, low humidity and other factors in the 'sick building syndrome' can increase nasal sensitivity. Even good air-conditioning, with efficient air filters that can reduce the level of pollen, will not get rid of all pollution.

More research is needed to fully reveal the close links between environmental pollution and allergic rhinitis.

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