Illinois Allergists Warn Not to Use Real Pumpkins & Corn In Your Decor This Fall

Illinois allergy experts are warning residents not to use real pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks, etc., in their outdoor decorations this fall. Here's the reason why.

Can You Develop Allergies Later in Life?

Growing up with a mom and brother that are dang near allergic to everything, I used to consider myself lucky to be immune to all that sniffly, sneezy allergy nonsense. Then I entered my late 30s and bam! My body began to betray me.

These days, if there’s wood smoke in the air, or the smell of mold anywhere nearby, my eyes get itchy, my sinuses plug up, and all my energy goes bye bye. Allergies are 100 percent no fun, and unfortunately northern Illinois is currently serving up mold levels that haven’t been this bad since 2014.

Fall Allergy Warning For Illinois

Now that I've complained about my allergy woes and shared that mold levels are extremely high in Illinois right now, let's get to the real bummer part of this article: allergy experts in Illinois are saying NOT to use real pumpkins, gourds, etc., in your fall decorations this year.

Allergist Dr. Rachna Shah recently told NBC Chicago:

Some of the stuff that we use to decorate - like pumpkins and corn stalks or other things of that nature - can be teeming with mold. So keeping those decorations outside rather than indoors can also be helpful in keeping that mold outside instead of bringing it into our homes.

I don't usually bring real pumpkins, cornstalks, or haybales into my home, but I do have all those things in my yard...in areas right under windows. I guess I really will have to sacrifice letting fresh air in our home this fall.