The lowest rates occur in Queensland and New South Wales, which is almost half that of Canberra. Why is this the case? One possibility is that there are simply more people in Canberra who are susceptible to allergic rhinitis.
Queensland in Australia has a low pollen count from March through to August.
“We are the capital of the world for allergies, for hayfever … at least one in three people in greater Melbourne suffers from it,” La Trobe University study co-author Dr Philip Taylor said.
Melbourne's chaotic climate breeds allergies
'Our temperate climate is well suited for the growth of grasses such as ryegrass,' he says.
Canberra comes out on top in both categories, closely followed by Melbourne and Adelaide as cities where there are not only high rates of allergic rhinitis, but also where you are most likely to encounter plants with the potential to trigger allergic rhinitis (see species richness graph).
Brisbane and Darwin have high pollen for most of the year. Allergic rhinitis and asthma are very common in Australia, and people with pollen allergy may experience symptoms for many months.
The five best states for allergy sufferers are all in the Rocky Mountain region of the Western United States — Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Arizona and Colorado. The three best states for pollen allergies have the highest average elevation and relatively dry climates — Wyoming, Utah and Colorado.
On the other hand, pollen counts usually drop when the weather is wet, drizzly, or cloudy, according to Dr. Bassett. This dreary weather may not help your mood, but it does minimize the amount of pollen flying through the air and triggering your allergy symptoms.
Adelaide, tying with Gold Coast, has been named the healthiest cities in Australia in a new study by Mandoe Media, with Melbourne, Perth and Sydney rounding out the top 5. Brisbane missed a top 5 place, ranking 6th, and the nation's capital ranked 12th.
Australia is believed to have one of the highest rates of hay fever in the world and was ranked seventh for allergic rhinitis in The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) study in 2006.
Several factors within the modern, urban lifestyle have been identified, although no single agent has been highlighted as the main reason. Exposure to adequate levels of vitamin D and the types of infections in childhood are thought to change the immune system development and trigger an allergic response.
An Amazon rainforest study has shed light on why Melbourne is the hayfever capital of the world.
Australia is considered the allergy capital of the world, with over five million people living with allergic diseases. In children, our HealthNuts study has shown up to 10 per cent of 12-month-olds in Australia have a clinically confirmed food allergy.
White Cypress (Murray) pine is the only Australian tree that produces highly allergenic pollen and it flowers approximately between late July and the end of August. Species of Casuarina or Australian oak trees produce pollen throughout the year and can cause hay fever symptoms at any time.
Indoor humidity levels are an important factor in keeping allergy symptoms at bay. If the indoor humidity is above 50%, it can encourage dust mites, cockroaches and even mold growth. These potent allergy triggers can be greatly reduced if humidity is kept below 50%.
Many people who suffer from allergy issues often believe that more dry climates, such as the desert, will help relieve their symptoms. While it may help some people, a more dry climate may actually make things worse!
The Rarest (And Strangest) Allergies
Water: Medically known as aquagenic urticaria, patients with a water allergy develop painful hives and rashes when their skin is exposed to water. An allergic reaction will develop regardless of the water temperature, and even when the water is purified.
Both seasonal and year-round allergies can cause fatigue. Getting tested by a board-certified allergist is the first step to finding relief.
Northern Territory. Coming in at last place, making it one of the the best places to live for allergy sufferers in Australia is the Northern Territory! With rates of almost half of the other states, at 11.8%, the Northern Territory is a haven for hay fever sufferers.
The Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia have the highest rates of allergic rhinitis in Australia, and Queensland and New South Wales have the lowest.
Hay fever is common — it affects 1 in 5 people in Australia. Despite its name, it's not caused by hay and doesn't cause a fever.