Kevin Dambach of Lake Forrest Gardens wraps a Christmas tree for a customer. He said concerns about mold and fungus on live trees brought into homes are overblown.

FOMBELL — A new study warns Americans that live Christmas trees with their pollen and mold can trigger allergies and asthma.

But local growers and gardeners dismiss the concern as just so much Christmas pixie dust.

While the pine scent may be nice to smell, the pollen and mold remaining on a live Christmas tree could be dangerous to breathe, according to researchers at State University of New York.

They found that 70 percent of the molds found in live trees can trigger severe asthma attacks, fatigue and sinus congestion. Artificial trees can also cause problems, especially if they're not wrapped properly and have accumulated dust and mold spores while in storage.

In Butler County, people should be more worried about just finding a live tree, said one longtime tree seller.

Alan Dambach, 74, the former owner of Lake Forest Gardens, 737 Chapel Lane, said any allergy attacks triggered by a live Christmas tree would be rare.

“I've heard of people being allergic to pine trees, but they may be allergic to any types of greens,” said Dambach who recently turned over the business — started by his father in 1939 — to his son, Kevin.

“It's such a small amount of people that if anybody told me they are allergic to pine, I'd tell them to break a branch off a Fraser fir and tie it under their nose,” said Dambach.

Mary Reefer, a Master Gardener with the Penn State Extension, also doubts a live tree in the living room poses much of a threat.

“I've never heard of it happening,” said Reefer. “I don't know anyone who's had an attack.”

“As far as fungal spores being harmful, if a tree is good enough to sell, it doesn't have fungus,” said Reefer.“I think this is another reason to get people upset or afraid,” she said.According to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, Americans, on average spend about 90 percent of their day indoors, where concentrations of some pollutants can be 2 to 5 times higher than the air they breathe outdoors. These conditions are made worse during the holidays as people add trees, decorations and candles around their homes.It's tree quantity, not air quality, that Butler County people need to be worried about this holiday, countered Dambach.Lake Forest Gardens, which offers both the choose-and-cut or pre-cut tree options to its customers, said live Christmas trees are becoming scarce this holiday season.Dambach blames wet weather conditions with wiping out some of the trees grown on the 600 acres the business owns.“The last two years have been so wet I've lost 2,000 transplants that have drowned. You can't cut up with heavy losses like that,” he said.Increased demand from landscapers for trees, the end of longtime suppliers and the increase in prices at others have all combined to thin out the selections of Canaan fir, Fraser fir, Douglas fir and Colorado Blue Spruce pine trees, Lake Forest Gardens can offer.

Families will spend time cleaning and organizing for guests visiting their house for the holidays, but what about making sure the air in their home is safe for others to breathe?For Artificial Trees:- Wrap the tree securely, store in a cool and dry place.- Wipe down the tree and ornaments before setting up.- Reduce the amount of spray snow to frost your tree and windows. Aerosolized chemicals can cause irritant reactions in the eyes, nose or lungs.- Dust off the decorations — They've been stored away for 11 months in garages, basements or attics which are known hangouts for mold and dust mites, carrying many allergens. Wipe those decorations off thoroughly with a damp cloth when you take them out of storage. After the holidays, pack decorations in plastic bags, or bins, not cardboard. Cardboard is notorious for collecting dust and promoting mold growth.Stop scented sprays and flocking:- Creating ambience from a can could lead to irritated noses and throats, exacerbating respiratory issues. Instead, try a natural potpourri of water, cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange peels, simmering on the stove, to keep your home smelling fresh and festive.Blow out scented candles:-While they can create that warm cozy feeling in your home, candles can also lead to respiratory distress in people with severe allergies or asthma.Some scented, petroleum-based candles can produce soot, as well as irritating particles and gasses. Candles made from soy, hemp, or beeswax, or even ones using LED “flickering light” effects may be a better option.Lose the poinsettias:- The cheerful, traditional plant is everywhere during the holidays. But did you know poinsettias are members of the rubber tree family?That means anyone allergic to latex could develop anything from a rash to severe breathing problems, just by touching or inhaling the allergen. The plants can also be mildly toxic to pets, which can lead to vomiting, diarrhea or skin or eye irritation in dogs and cats.— 919 Marketing

Kevin Dambach, left, and his father, Alan, of Lake Forrest Gardens said live Christmas trees are becoming scarce this holiday.