Light Pollution Stretches Northeast Allergy Seasons by Two Months

A 2012–2023 analysis of pollen data across the Northeast reveals that artificial nighttime lighting prolongs allergy seasons in cities by approximately two months compared to rural areas. Pollen seasons start roughly 20 days earlier in urban zones, but the delay in seasonal ending is even more pronounced. Researchers controlled for temperature and precipitation to isolate light as the independent variable. The mechanism: artificial light disrupts plants' photoperiodic cues, extending growing and pollen-production cycles.