Reactions to cedar pollen spike as the sneezing season begins.

Nearly one in four Japanese adults is already suffering from what promises to be the worst hay fever season in 10 years, an Asahi Shimbun survey shows.

The poll, taken over the weekend, found about 37 percent of adults now complaining of sneezing, runny noses and itchy eyes because of cedar pollen allergies.

Paradoxically, the percentages of people with hay fever symptoms were high in urban areas where there are fewer cedar trees than rural areas.

The Asahi Shimbun telephone survey polled 1,782 adults at random over the weekend. Twenty-two percent had allergy symptoms, and another 15 percent said they ``could be suffering.''

Health experts predict this year will set records for extremes of cedar pollen. The peak season of pollen release is just about to begin.

The survey showed that 70 percent of those polled had taken ``an interest in pollen allergy'' issues.

More people in urban areas said they were reacting to pollen. Of those who reported allergies, 26 percent lived in Tokyo's 23 wards or in other major cities. This contrasts with 21 percent who lived in smaller cities and 18 percent living in rural areas who gave the same answer.

In the Tokai region, 29 percent said they had allergy symptoms, followed by 27 percent in Kanto and 24 percent in the Kinki region.

Only 7 percent gave the same answer in Hokkaido, a region with few cedar trees. By age, many sufferers were middle-aged, with the largest number-51 percent-in their 40s. Percentages fell among older respondents.

Among sufferers, 38 percent said their symptoms emerged at least 10 years ago, constituting the biggest group. This was followed by 21 percent who said their symptoms started two to three years ago.

Asked to cite an effective remedy, 38 percent replied medical treatment at a hospital-the biggest group. More than half of women respondents in their 20s and 30s gave this answer.

Of other treatments, 22 percent of those polled said they irrigated their eyes and nasal passages thoroughly, while 17 percent said ``wearing masks and glasses'' helped.

Among the 62 percent who said they did not have any allergy symptoms, about half worried they could develop them, the survey showed.

The poll brought to focus the fact that city dwellers suffer more than residents of rural areas, possibly because overall air pollution, including vehicle exhaust emissions, could trigger allergic reactions to pollen.(IHT/Asahi: February 23,2005)