As the earth revives in spring and flowers bloom, many people go out to enjoy the greenery and admire the flowers. However, during this time of blossoms, there is also an increase in organic dust particles—pollen—in our living environment. These float suspended in the air, carried by the wind. Every year, when spring arrives, some people develop spring pollen allergies after inhaling pollen.
Wind and insects help spread pollen through the air. Beijing's spring is dry and windy, providing favorable conditions for the spread of pollen. Pollen is the male reproductive cell of plants, and it spreads through the air with the help of wind and insects, thus being categorized into insect-pollinated and wind-pollinated types. Insect-pollinated pollen tends to be larger, with bright colors and fragrances; due to its heavier weight, it is less likely to be carried far by the wind, resulting in lower concentrations in the air. On the other hand, wind-pollinated flowers are small, lack appealing colors or scents, but their pollen is lightweight, and they produce large quantities of flowers, leading to high concentrations in the air, often causing outbreaks of pollen allergies.
Pollen can travel up to 200 kilometers.