Birch Pollen nightmare for the weekend
Discussion
Well not what anyone wants to read but if you have a garage then time to clear it I think!!!
http://www.express.co.uk/printer/view/243170/
"A MENACING cloud of acidic birch pollen – which eats into the paintwork of cars – is blowing towards Britain from Europe.
Millions of cars could be affected at the end of the week when the pollen reaches the UK.
To compound the misery, hay fever sufferers are being warned of a “nightmare scenario” of the cloud arriving at the same time as pollen levels are rising in Britain.
The birch pollen cloud has already hit Germany, where authorities have warned motorists to immediately wash it off their cars – or risk damage that could result in owners having to fork out for a full respray.
Though birch pollen from British trees is currently in peak season, levels have remained moderate and are therefore not posing such a problem. However, the Met Office has predicted that winds from Europe will head towards the UK tomorrow and Friday.
Karl-Heinz Nottrodt, a pollen specialist at the German Meteorology Institute said: “There is a heavy cloud of pollen making its way from Eastern Europe.
“It is now hitting Germany hard and will continue towards France and the UK over the next few days.
“The extreme dry, warm weather has also meant that a lot of the pollen could not be washed away as is normal at this time of year.”
Birch tree pollen is a main cause of hay fever, triggering allergic reactions in around a quarter of sufferers. Allergy sufferers are being warned to prepare for the increase in pollen levels.
Jonathan Powell, of Positive Weather Solutions, said: “It’s the pollen season now and levels are already particularly high.
“To have birch pollen blowing in from the continent as well is a nightmare scenario.”
An AA spokesman warned drivers who suffer from the allergy to prepare for the high levels of pollen in the next few days.
He said: “The biggest concern is for hay fever sufferers. Suffering a reaction can impair your driving.
“But if you are going to get treatment, make sure you tell whoever is prescribing it whether or not you’re going to be driving a car.”
In Germany, car paint specialist Klaus Herdemertens has been dealing with cars already damaged by the birch pollen. He said: “If the pollen is left on the car, it can burn through the paintwork.
It could end up costing motorists hundreds of pounds each to have their vehicles resprayed
“The pollen is very abrasive and also slightly acidic. If left, over time it will damage painted surfaces.
“The car should be washed thoroughly and not just wiped, otherwise the pollen will stick to the car.”
Mr Herdemertens advised car owners to spray them with specialist car paint cleaner and then take them to the car wash.
Garden furniture, windows and beer gardens in Germany are also being affected by the pollen.
Klaus Bacher, a beer garden owner in Cologne, said: “The pollen is everywhere, on the menus, the chairs and all over our terrace.
“It stains quickly, so we have to keep cleaning it off. This year is worse than ever.” It’s not all bad news, however. The UK’s gloriously warm spring has created a stunning display of sea pinks at Chesil Beach in Dorset."
_______________________________________________________________________________
Cheers
David
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http://www.express.co.uk/printer/view/243170/
"A MENACING cloud of acidic birch pollen – which eats into the paintwork of cars – is blowing towards Britain from Europe.
Millions of cars could be affected at the end of the week when the pollen reaches the UK.
To compound the misery, hay fever sufferers are being warned of a “nightmare scenario” of the cloud arriving at the same time as pollen levels are rising in Britain.
The birch pollen cloud has already hit Germany, where authorities have warned motorists to immediately wash it off their cars – or risk damage that could result in owners having to fork out for a full respray.
Though birch pollen from British trees is currently in peak season, levels have remained moderate and are therefore not posing such a problem. However, the Met Office has predicted that winds from Europe will head towards the UK tomorrow and Friday.
Karl-Heinz Nottrodt, a pollen specialist at the German Meteorology Institute said: “There is a heavy cloud of pollen making its way from Eastern Europe.
“It is now hitting Germany hard and will continue towards France and the UK over the next few days.
“The extreme dry, warm weather has also meant that a lot of the pollen could not be washed away as is normal at this time of year.”
Birch tree pollen is a main cause of hay fever, triggering allergic reactions in around a quarter of sufferers. Allergy sufferers are being warned to prepare for the increase in pollen levels.
Jonathan Powell, of Positive Weather Solutions, said: “It’s the pollen season now and levels are already particularly high.
“To have birch pollen blowing in from the continent as well is a nightmare scenario.”
An AA spokesman warned drivers who suffer from the allergy to prepare for the high levels of pollen in the next few days.
He said: “The biggest concern is for hay fever sufferers. Suffering a reaction can impair your driving.
“But if you are going to get treatment, make sure you tell whoever is prescribing it whether or not you’re going to be driving a car.”
In Germany, car paint specialist Klaus Herdemertens has been dealing with cars already damaged by the birch pollen. He said: “If the pollen is left on the car, it can burn through the paintwork.
It could end up costing motorists hundreds of pounds each to have their vehicles resprayed
“The pollen is very abrasive and also slightly acidic. If left, over time it will damage painted surfaces.
“The car should be washed thoroughly and not just wiped, otherwise the pollen will stick to the car.”
Mr Herdemertens advised car owners to spray them with specialist car paint cleaner and then take them to the car wash.
Garden furniture, windows and beer gardens in Germany are also being affected by the pollen.
Klaus Bacher, a beer garden owner in Cologne, said: “The pollen is everywhere, on the menus, the chairs and all over our terrace.
“It stains quickly, so we have to keep cleaning it off. This year is worse than ever.” It’s not all bad news, however. The UK’s gloriously warm spring has created a stunning display of sea pinks at Chesil Beach in Dorset."
_______________________________________________________________________________
Cheers
David
______________
s2driveruk said:
Well not what anyone wants to read but if you have a garage then time to clear it I think!!!
http://www.express.co.uk/printer/view/243170/
"A MENACING cloud of acidic birch pollen – which eats into the paintwork of cars – is blowing towards Britain from Europe.
Now try finding the same panic-stricken story in more sensible news outlets. Compare:http://www.express.co.uk/printer/view/243170/
"A MENACING cloud of acidic birch pollen – which eats into the paintwork of cars – is blowing towards Britain from Europe.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/8472176...
s2driveruk said:
Hello Ian 
Yeah mines due to be left outside for the long weekend 
Hope its not as bad as they say!
Hi bud, the Rally car is indoors (but it's paint is 'toast' anyway), and the roadgoing Ur's up in the carport, so that'll be okay. Alas the S2'll need a pretty instant bath. The Land Rover's a Land Rover, so a bit of European 'fluff' shouldn't hurt it... It's the 20v Coupe quattro that'll need a bit of TLC as it's outside and tucked up where it won't necessarily get cleaned that quickly... I'll make a special effort this weekend (even though I'm working) to get the spung busy. Yeah mines due to be left outside for the long weekend Hope its not as bad as they say!VBR
Ian
te. Cars have been perfectly safe for a hundred years amongst several billion tons of the stuff yet suddenly it's a threat that will eat everyone's vehicles and kill hayfever suffers.Parrot of Doom said:
s2driveruk said:
Well not what anyone wants to read but if you have a garage then time to clear it I think!!!
http://www.express.co.uk/printer/view/243170/
"A MENACING cloud of acidic birch pollen – which eats into the paintwork of cars – is blowing towards Britain from Europe.
Now try finding the same panic-stricken story in more sensible news outlets. Compare:http://www.express.co.uk/printer/view/243170/
"A MENACING cloud of acidic birch pollen – which eats into the paintwork of cars – is blowing towards Britain from Europe.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/8472176...
Dunclane said:
My eyes started to itch a bit today, I get hayfever really badly! Hope this report is scaremongering!
If you get it really bad, it starts in February and lasts until November.....Welcome to my life .......Then of course there is my dust allergy which leads to allergic Rhinitis.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff