How Central Valley Agriculture and Dust Spike Local Allergies

How Central Valley Agriculture and Dust Spike Local Allergies

Fresno is home to 1.88 million acres of farmland where more than 350 crops are grown. It’s one of the world’s most productive agricultural zones, and 1 in 5 jobs in Fresno County is related to agriculture. 

While the Central Valley agricultural industry thrives, it also poses challenges for California’s respiratory systems. For Fresno residents, agricultural dust triggers local allergies that don’t just disappear when the spring and summer pollen season ends. It extends most of the year, making allergies a daily problem.

Understanding industrial farming practices and how they affect your respiratory system is the first step toward finding relief. It’s not just as easy as taking over-the-counter medicines. True relief from local allergies and allergy-related asthma starts by knowing how to get help and what your options are.

How the Geography Traps Allergens

Fresno is part of the Central Valley, and the entire area’s geography works against people with allergies. Fresno sits about 98 meters above sea level. To the west and east of the valley are the towering Coast Ranges and the Sierra Nevada. It forms a geographic bowl.

Because Fresno is in the center of the bowl, particles are trapped. Four problems cause the allergies you experience.

• The Bowl Effect: Because you have the Sierra Nevada mountain range to the east and the Coastal Range to the west, the mountains block wind flow.
• Thermal Inversion: Warm air becomes trapped just above the valley floor, trapping cool, stagnant air near the ground. This keeps agricultural dust, exhaust, pollen, and wildfire smoke from blowing out of the area.
• UV Exposure: The sun’s UV rays are abundant all summer long, heating the air pollutants already in the area. That elevates the ground-level ozone.
• Westerly Winds: Most winds in the area blow from the west, passing over industrial areas along the Pacific Coast. This pushes the wildfire smoke and other pollutants into the Valley, but the Sierra Nevada mountain range blocks their exit.

Agricultural Dust in Fresno

While everyday yard weeds, grass, and trees release pollen that triggers allergies, Fresno’s agricultural industry introduces unique allergens and problems.

• Decomposing Plant Matter: Decomposing husks, leaves, and stems often become moldy, especially after rain. Those particles enter the air and trigger mold/mildew allergies.
• Fertilizers and Pesticides: To keep plants nourished and limit damage from insects, many farms use commercial fertilizers and pesticides. The chemical compounds in them are irritants when inhaled.
• Fungal Spores: Alternaria and Cladosporium are prevalent in Central Valley irrigation channels. When damp soil is turned by farm equipment, these fungal spores become airborne. The Central Valley is known for a specific fungus (Cocciodioides immitis), as it thrives in sandy soil. If it gets stirred up, it causes Valley Fever, which often resembles severe allergies or the flu.
• Mineral Dust: Soil contains a variety of minerals, decaying matter, and fertilizers. Mineral dust becomes airborne on a windy day if the soil is extremely dry or has been turned over by farm equipment.

Your Immune System’s Response to Agricultural Dust

You’re exposed to this combination of agricultural dust and other particulate matter. Your immune system launches a defense against what it sees as an invader. This triggers:

• Allergy-Induced Asthma: Asthma affects almost 28 million Americans. Allergens and agricultural dust are common triggers. Fine particulates bypass the nose and sinuses, entering directly into your bronchioles. That triggers chest tightness, coughing, and wheezing, all of which can be dangerous if you don’t have the medications needed to prevent or ease asthma flare-ups.
• Chronic Allergic Rhinitis: Constant exposure to allergens causes permanent inflammation in your nose and sinuses. You’re always congested and have continuous sinus pressure. You might also find your throat feels dry and scratchy.
• Ocular (Eye) Allergies: Allergies can also impact your eyes. Pollen and dust get into your eyes and irritate the cornea and conjunctiva. You end up with red eyes that may get puffy, and your inner eyelids feel like sandpaper.

When Over-the-Counter Allergy Medications Stop Working

Most people seek relief for their allergies using over-the-counter allergy medications. While it may work, it’s not always as effective as you’d hope, especially for year-round allergies. 

Nasal sprays are great, but only for three days. You shouldn’t use them for more than three consecutive days, or you risk a condition known as rhinitis medicamentosa. It causes your nasal lining to swell.

Antihistamine pills are designed to block your body’s histamine receptors. It’s only temporary relief. When they wear off, the symptoms will return with a vengeance. Drowsiness is also a common symptom, so you shouldn’t use them if you’ll be driving or using heavy equipment.

OTC allergy medicines also treat a range of symptoms rather than the specific symptoms you experience. Over time, you might find that the medications you’ve been using no longer work. You’re stuck at square one and need to find a medication that works again.

A better approach to OTC allergy medications is to work with a Fresno allergist. Local allergy doctors know the climate and crop cycles, which makes it easier to start predicting when your symptoms will worsen. Before any treatments are discussed, you’ll undergo a skin prick test or IgE test to identify your specific allergens.

Once your allergy triggers are known, an allergist offers immunotherapy treatments. Instead of taking pills every day during peak farming season, you have three options.

Immunotherapy Options

Allergy shots work by introducing your immune system to small doses of your specific allergen. 

• Subcutaneous: Given under your skin (subcutaneous) each week for up to five years.
• Intralymphatic: Three injections given directly into a lymph node a month apart.
• Sublingual: Place a tablet or drop under your tongue for up to five years. The first few doses are done in the allergist’s office. After that, you can do them at your convenience at home.

Steps to Take at Home

Allergy shots or oral immunotherapy work well, but you need to pair immunotherapy with measures you take at home. 

• Agricultural dust is worse in the morning and mid-afternoon, limiting time outside during those hours.
• Leave outdoor clothes in your garage or mudroom if possible. Try not to bring shoes, jackets, and hats inside.
• Pay attention to the Air Quality Index (AQI), and wear a mask if it’s high.
• Rinse your sinuses with a saline rinse every night.
• Run HEPA air purification systems in your home. If you have a central HVAC system, use the highest possible MERV rating allowed.
• Shower before bed to remove dust from your hair and body before getting into bed.

Don’t Try to Ride Out the Symptoms

Chronic fatigue, sinus headaches, and allergy-related asthma do not have to be part of your life. When you work with Dr. Sabry at Premium Allergy, you gain essential information about your allergies.

With helpful treatments like allergy shots and sublingual drops or tablets, your allergies ease, giving you lasting relief. Your quality of life improves, leaving you free to do the things you love. Reach us online to learn more and schedule a consultation.