While bringing home a live Christmas tree marks the beginning of the holiday season for many, the mold that thrives on its branches can trigger weeks of suffering for some, a new US study shows, Health Day news reported on Sunday. (file photo from Xinhua)

Connecticut researchers have found that the mold count from a live Christmas tree rose to five times the normal level two weeks after the tree was brought indoors, said Health Day, a division of Scout News, a Connecticut-based news and information company.

The researchers studied the mold growth of a live Christmas tree in a house in Connecticut.

Mold reproduce by releasing spores into the air, so after the live Christmas tree was brought inside the house and decorated, the researchers measured mold spore counts. These counts were taken 12 times over a two-week period between Dec. 24 and Jan. 6. The study found that the mold spore count was 800 spores per square meter (m3) for the first three days. Normal spore counts are less than 1,000 spores/m3. However, the spore count rose after day four, reaching a maximum of 5,000 spores/m3 by day 14.

Experts recommended that people with mold sensitivity keep a live Christmas tree in the house for only four to seven days.

"So if you don't feel well during the holidays, consider the Christmas tree as a possible source of allergies," said study co-author Philip Hemmers, an allergist and immunologist with St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, Conn.

An artificial tree may be a better option for people with mold allergies, he added, but they carry their own set of problems, especially if they have been stored in the attic or basement where they can collect dust and mold.

In addition to Christmas trees, there are other potential holiday allergens, including food consumed at holiday parties, such as nuts and shellfish, and Christmas ornaments and lights that have been contaminated with dust or mold, experts warned.

(Xinhua News Agency November 19, 2007)