Springtime marks a particularly unpleasant season for those suffering from allergies. Airborne allergens are seeping through the campus in high numbers.

Scientists argue about the origin of allergies. Some claim that heredity and changes in the environment may play a role.

According to the biology textbook “The Human Body in Health and Disease,” people are not born with allergies. However, about 30 percent of all Americans have a genetic predisposition causing their immune system to overreact to what are usually harmless substances. Allergic reactions to pollen differ according to the type of allergy an individual is prone to. Common reactions are sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, itchy eyes, throat, nose or skin, rashes and breathing problems.

According to biology instructors Ed Burling and Eileen Pacier, grasses, weeds and trees such as the oak and sycamore are all contributing allergens in the form of pollen during this time of year. These plants are “without showy flowers and blooms” and make pollen that is carried by the wind and hence to our noses and eyes, rather than the flowers that attract insects and therefore are not blown about by the wind, said Burling. While the allergy season is ending for redwood trees, April and May are the primary months for the oak tree, which the De Anza campus cultivates, among others. Pollen from grasses and weed fields are airborne and easily transported to campus from surrounding areas, says Pacier.

Biology instructor Ann Stemler said she has observed grounds people removing most of the tall grasses and ground-covering weeds, and thus thinks that the campus is “probably not a bad place for people with grass allergies,” despite the pollen emitting oak trees.

“We can tell what season it is by what medications we give out more,” said Lisa Zulaica, a Health Services assistant. She says that spring is “definitely the time” when more students are complaining about allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes and runny noses.

According to Zulaica, Health Services provides a number of generic allergy medications, but also tells students complaining about their allergies to go and see a doctor if their symptoms prevail over a long period of time.

Suppression of allergic reactions is just one form of treatment. The Health Services brochure “Allergies and You” also suggests avoiding pollens whenever possible.

The website www.pollen.com has more information on pollen. For information on allergies, call the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology at 1-800-822-2762 or the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America at 1-800-727-8462.