A Study on Urban Vegetation and Pollen Allergy in Beijing

Abstract

Beijing, as an ecological city with a forest coverage rate reaching 44.95%, significantly benefits from its abundant vegetation resources which improve the urban environmental quality. However, the dense distribution of numerous anemophilous (wind-pollinating) plants makes it a high-incidence area for seasonal pollen allergies in Northern China. Pollen allergy can trigger severe immune responses, with some patients even experiencing health-threatening complications. Although the literature on pollen allergy in Beijing is relatively rich, existing findings are dispersed across the fields of botany, environmental science, and medicine, lacking systematic integration. Comprehensive research is particularly insufficient regarding the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of allergenic plants, the dynamics of pollen dispersal, and the analysis of their association with allergy symptoms. This paper systematically analyzes the types, sensitization mechanisms, and control measures of major allergenic plants in the Beijing area. It clarifies the differences in sensitization risks between native and introduced species, reviews the research progress on allergy mechanisms and pollen dispersal dynamics, and proposes recommendations for constructing a pollen allergy prevention and control system. This study provides an important reference for a deeper understanding of the pollen allergy issue in Beijing and lays a scientific foundation for the formulation of subsequent control strategies.