Ever heard of “Christmas Tree Syndrome”? There are people getting sick by being around the tree. Real trees can trigger an allergic reaction with symptoms that can include: wheezing, coughs, congestion, sore eyes and potentially life-threatening asthma attacks. One way to reduce the risk? A good shake can get rid of some dust and pollen. But the branches and trunk can often hold onto another microscopic problem. “What they’re allergic to is the mold that settles on the tree during its growing time and arguably sometimes when it’s waiting to be sold here on the lot,” said Jimmy Coan, who’s a Christmas tree farmer.
One study found the mold count from a live Christmas tree rose to five times the normal level two weeks after the tree was brought indoors. 5-Year-Old Boy Dials 911 To Say Grinch Stealing Christmas. Another way to make the tree less likely to trigger an allergic reaction is to give it a bath. “Get your tree in the backyard and hose it down. Then put it in the house and you’re good to go,” Coan said.
