A biologist spoke about the health risks of installing a live Christmas tree at home for New Year's Eve

New Year's tree at home can carry certain health risks for people with hypersensitivity, Associate Professor of the Department of General Biology and Bioecology of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the State University of Education, biologist Roman Oparin told Izvestia.

"The main problem is allergies. Spruce and fir are considered the most allergenic because of their resin and essential oils. Pine is less allergenic, but can also cause allergic reactions. Allergy to conifers usually manifests itself in the form of runny nose, cough, sometimes in the form of skin rashes, itching," - said the expert.

According to him, in addition to resin and essential oils, the cause of allergies can be mold and fungi that develop on the tree under improper storage conditions, pollen or insect waste. Another rare threat is residue from bird or animal feces, which may contain bacteria or parasites.

"In general, the threats listed are minimal. If the Christmas tree is healthy and has been stored under the right conditions, it is safe. However, for allergy sufferers, a reasonable option would be to choose an artificial Christmas tree," concluded Oparin.

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Earlier, December 19, it was reported that this year's leaders in the number of purchases in the pre-New Year season were artificial Christmas trees - from cast to LED. They accounted for 56% of the total number of such goods in the checks, and natural, both cut down and in pots, - 44%, follows from the data of the bank "Russian Standard". A year earlier, on the contrary, natural trees were in the lead with a noticeable gap. They accounted for 65% of purchases.