A dramatic increase in our exposure to airborne toxins and pollens over the past few decades is matched only by the exponential increase in allergies and asthma in our cities. Depending on who you talk to, allergies affect from one in 10 people to as many as a third of all people. For the average person, runny noses, sneezing, nasal stuffiness, red and watery eyes are the most common symptoms. In the US, however, deaths from asthma have almost doubled every decade over the past 40 years. Most commentators point to the rise in diesel fumes and the indiscriminate use of petrochemical-based fertilisers and pesticides. This notwithstanding, horticulturists also point out that nurseries have...
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