Allergy sufferers beware, catkins out of the bag
Catkins on Fuxing Road M.
It's that time of the year people with allergies dread. Catkins, white cylindrical flower clusters, are detaching from trees and being blown across the city.
Catkins — mainly from plane, poplar and willow trees — are typically downy and pendulous.
"Catkins are usually seen in Shanghai from early April to the end of the month," said Yang Ruiqing, an expert with the Shanghai Greenery Management Station. "They are particularly seen in downtown areas with plane trees.
"Planes are the major street tree in Shanghai, while poplar and willow trees are mainly planted in parks," said Yang.
Plane trees-lined Shaanxi Road S., Fuxing Road M., Ruijin No. 2 Road, Huaihai Road M. and Hengshan Road are among the worst.
Plane trees are widely planted in Shanghai's downtown areas to provide shade in summer, and because they shed their leaves in winter letting in light.
They also thrive in poor soil and are good at purifying air.
"In Shanghai, spraying and injecting a liquid agent onto trees, as well as trimming, curbs catkin production," Yang said.
However, the effect of the liquid agent varies significantly, and closing off footpaths for spraying is problematic.
"The most effective way is trimming, but it is difficult on small roads in downtown areas because they are narrow and the plane trees are high," said Yang.
A complete trim is conducted every two to three years on those streets.
The catkins cause coughs, sneezing and itching.
"Catkin is very disturbing in spring because I am seriously allergic to it," said Zhou Ping, a Shanghai resident working on Hengshan Road.
"I have to wear masks all the time when walking on the streets to avoid coughing."
Residents are reminded to wear long-sleeved clothing, masks and glasses to fend off catkins, the greenery management station said.
They should wash their eyes with clean water immediately or wipe them with a wet paper towel lightly once a catkin gets in their eyes. Cold compresses with wet towels also helps relieve allergic reactions.
