I love my Christmas tree, but I hate the way it smells. Or lacks a scent, to be more accurate, because this is a fake tree. I don’t actually like artificial trees and we didn’t even buy this one for the reason you might expect (Asthma Girl) but because a combination of living in South Florida away from our families and having 2 young children meant there was never any guarantee we’d have help getting the live tree off the car and into the house. After too many holidays trying to juggle the tree and the children/babies, I caved and we bought this 5 years ago.
This tree is not the environmentally friendly option, by the way, although I never considered the issue when we bought it. Naturally, it’s the last fake one I’ll ever buy. With Christmas trees, just like with using woodburning fireplaces and scented candles, you sometimes have to weigh asthma and/or allergy risks against your lifestyle and/or the environmental impact to figure out your own best option.
If your asthmatic child has an allergy to any of the spruces or firs (AG doesn’t), you’ve probably already made your decision. Do you ever wonder though, especially with the trendiness of the green movement, why we haven’t yet seen any artificial trees made of sustainable materials? ARE YOU READING THIS, TREE MANUFACTURERS? HOW ABOUT AN EARTH-FRIENDLY FAKE CHRISTMAS TREE FOR US ASTHMA FAMILIES?
The more I think about it, the better this idea seems. Do a Google search for *green living + Christmas trees,* and you’ll find every environmental site out there with a relevant article. I bet sustainable artificial trees would sell like crazy because of us asthma folks and also because of the environmentally conscious who don’t want the hassle/mess/expense of a live tree. Sure wish I had the funds, knowhow, or ability to craft things with my hands to figure out the process myself and make a fortune, although I’d be shocked if some company weren’t working on this very idea right now.
Let’s move along.
If your child, like mine, doesn’t have any tree pollen allergies, new research suggests considering the prospect of mold. an interesting experiment on Christmas trees and mold came out last month. In the research, which is all over the allergy and asthma sites, a Connecticut allergist noted mold spores inside an apartment increasing from 800 per cubic meter to 5,000 spores per meter after a live Christmas tree sat in it for 2 weeks.
Why Is This News?
Because doctors generally attribute asthma and allergy symptoms around live trees to pollen allergies, and this doctor’s experiment indicates mold could be the bigger trigger. Obviously, the way asthma families buy their Christmas trees will not hinge on the evidence of one small experiment, but I’m betting this doctor’s work will inspire further study.
Either way, the article suggests that families living with asthma or allergies (or those who are unsure) should use a hose to spray off artificial OR live trees in order to wash off any pollen, mold, or dust. Then the the tree should air-dry before it comes in the house.
Side Issues, For Your Entertainment and My Benefit
Here’s a fun game. I realized this morning if you look back over the Christmas posts here and here, you can piece together sort-of what my living room walls look like, minus a couple of corners.
Also, see this ornament?
This bell an interesting heirloom because although it is a poor-quality simple glass ornament that probably came from a discount store, it holds great value for me. It’s the sole remaining bell out of a set of 6 from my childhood. I’m one of 4 children, and you’d think 6 bells would be enough for all of us, but you’d be wrong. Every year, whenever we decorated the tree we’d have our traditional holiday smackdown to see who could find/unwrap/hang these, our favorite ornaments, first. Probably the race to find them among all the other ornaments has a lot to do with why so many of them broke over the years.
I love this bell because of those fights and because my own daughters also adore this ornament. There is something irresistible to children about its lovely clear ring and the somehow immensely satisfying way the bells click and nestle together into the largest bell.
Any of you know where I can get more of these? My mom doesn’t remember where she bought them 20-odd years ago, and my remaining one lacks the original box. I’d be forever grateful if you could give me a heads-up.
I’m allergic to real Christmas trees, so I decided I’d get a fake one. The first year was fine, because it was new. The second year I had an allergic asthma attack while setting up the fake tree. Even though it was in a box all year, it was full of dust. Of course we have to have one because of the kids, so we’re back to a real one, only I had a freind set it up. With us asthmatics there’s always something to make life difficult for everyone.
P.S. I added you to my blog roll, and I also have an asthmatic daughter. I gave her my bad genes.
My daughter’s asthma only has one allergic trigger (dust mites), but my non-asthmatic kindergartener was only 1 when we switched to artificial and her allergies are steadily getting worse. I have a feeling we’re going to notice some problems when we switch back to a live tree, unfortunately.
I didn’t pass along bad genes (no asthma in my family), but my kid sure seems to have picked up some bad luck, lol.
Thanks for the add!