The worst Canadian cities for allergies

The worst Canadian cities for allergies

Find out which six cities in Canada are troublesome for allergy sufferers

By Stephanie Gray

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Vancouver

For those living in beautiful coastal city of Vancouver, the tree-filled landscape is a nature lover’s paradise, but for those with allergies to tree pollen it’s another story. Not only does Vancouver have a high concentration of trees to begin with, but the city’s urban landscaping also plays a role in allergies. Cities often choose to plant male trees to avoid the cleanup of seeds and fruit, which female trees produce, explains horticulturalist and allergy gardening expert Thomas Ogren. The problem with this is male trees produce allergenic pollen. The most common tree pollens seen in Vancouver are alder and birch, which can cause severe reactions including asthma attacks for those with allergies to it.