Climate Change and Our Environment: The Effect on Respiratory and Allergic Disease (original) (raw)

Climate change: allergens and allergic diseases

Internal Medicine Journal

Climate change has been described as the biggest global health threat of the 21st century. The atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, have increased significantly since the start of the Industrial Era around 1750, with much of this increase occurring over just the last 50 years or so. This is resulting in warming of the climate system as well as changes in precipitation and weather and climate extremes. These changes in climate are having wide-ranging impacts on the Earth's physical, biological and human systems, including human health. It is these impacts of climate change on human health that are the focus of this paper, particularly the impacts on allergens and allergic diseases. Such impacts are particularly significant in many countries where the prevalence of such diseases is high and/or increasing. There is now compelling evidence that rising air temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations are, in some plant species, resulting in increased pollen production and allergenicity and advancement and lengthening of the pollen season. Changes in extreme events, such as thunderstorms and tropical cyclones, will also have impacts on allergic diseases, with, for example, the flooding associated with tropical cyclones leading to proliferation of mould growth in damp homes. The article also considers a range of responses to these health threats, including greenhouse gas mitigation, and adaptation strategies, such as enhanced environmental monitoring and health surveillance and adequate planning for the future medical workforce.

The Impact of Global Warming on Allergic and Respiratory Diseases

International Journal of Medical and Biomedical Studies, 2019

For years, scientists and medical professionals have been working hard to rule out the accurate cause behind idiopathic seasonal respiratory diseases and skin allergies as their specific root cause has never been highlighted by anyone due to lack of knowledge and resources. The purpose of this article is to develop general awareness in our society regarding the relationship between global climate change, allergic and respiratory diseases. After extensive research we have concluded that there is massive impact of weather, pollens and airborne pollutants over these allergies.

Anthropogenic Climate Change and Allergic Diseases

Atmosphere, 2012

Climate change is expected to have an impact on various aspects of health, including mucosal areas involved in allergic inflammatory disorders that include asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and anaphylaxis. The evidence that links climate change to the exacerbation and the development of allergic disease is increasing and appears to be linked to changes in pollen seasons (duration, onset and intensity) and changes in allergen content of plants and their pollen as it relates to increased sensitization, allergenicity and exacerbations of allergic airway disease. This has significant implications for air quality and for the global food supply.

Climate Change and Allergic Disease

Springer-Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 2012

Abstract Allergies are prevalent throughout the United States and impose a substantial quality of life and economic burden. The potential effect of climate change has an impact on allergic disorders through variability of aeroallergens, food allergens and insect-based allergic venoms. Data sug- gest allergies (ocular and nasal allergies, allergic asthma and sinusitis) have increased in the United States and that there are changes in allergies to stinging insect populations (ves- pids, apids and fire ants). The cause of this upward trend is unknown, but any climate change may induce augmentation of this trend; the subspecialty of allergy and immunology needs to be keenly aware of potential issues that are pro- jected for the near and not so distant future.

Effects of climate change on environmental factors in respiratory allergic diseases

Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2008

A body of evidence suggests that major changes involving the atmosphere and the climate, including global warming induced by human activity, have an impact on the biosphere and the human environment. Studies on the effects of climate change on respiratory allergy are still lacking and current knowledge is provided by epidemiological and experimental studies on the relationship between asthma and environmental factors, such as meteorological variables, airborne allergens and air pollution. However, there is also considerable evidence that subjects affected by asthma are at an increased risk of developing obstructive airway exacerbations with exposure to gaseous and particulate components of air pollution. It is not easy to evaluate the impact of climate change and air pollution on the prevalence of asthma in general and on the timing of asthma exacerbations. However, the global rise in asthma prevalence and severity suggests that air pollution and climate changes could be contributing. Pollen allergy is frequently used to study the interrelationship between air pollution, rhinitis and bronchial asthma. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that urbanization, high levels of vehicle emissions and westernized lifestyle are correlated to an increase in the frequency of pollen-induced respiratory allergy, prevalent in people who live in urban areas compared with those who live in rural areas. Meteorological factors (temperature, wind speed, humidity, etc.) along with their climatological regimes (warm or cold anomalies and dry or wet periods, etc.), can affect both biological and chemical components of this interaction. In addition, by inducing airway inflammation, air pollution overcomes the mucosal barrier priming allergen-induced responses. In conclusion, climate change might induce negative effects on respiratory allergic diseases. In particular, the increased length and severity of the pollen season, the higher occurrence of heavy precipitation events and the increasing frequency of urban air pollution episodes suggest that environmental risk factors will have a stronger effect in the following decades.

The effects of climate change on respiratory allergy and asthma induced by pollen and mold allergens

Allergy, 2020

The impact of climate change on the environment, biosphere and biodiversity has become more evident in the recent years. Human activities have increased atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO 2) and other greenhouse gases. Change in climate and the correlated global warming affects the quantity, intensity and frequency of precipitation type as well as the frequency of extreme events such as heat waves, droughts, thunderstorms, floods and hurricanes. Respiratory health can be particularly affected by climate change, which contributes to the development of allergic respiratory diseasesand asthma. Pollen and mold allergens are able to trigger the release of pro-inflammatory and immunomodulatory mediators that accelerate the onset the IgE-mediated sensitizationand of allergy. Allergy to pollen and pollen season at its beginning, in duration and intensity are altered by climatechange. Studies showed that plants exhibit enhanced photosynthesis and reproductive effects and produce more pollen as a response to high atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO 2).Molds which proliferation is increased by floods and rainy storms are responsible for severe asthma. Pollen and mold allergy is generally used to evaluate the interrelation between air pollution and allergic respiratory diseases, such as rhinitis and asthma. Thunderstorms during pollen seasons can cause exacerbation of respiratory allergy and asthma in patients with hay fever. A similar phenomenon is observed for molds.Measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can have positive health benefits.

Climate change and its impact on allergic rhinitis and other allergic respiratory diseases

Current opinion in otolaryngology & head and neck surgery, 2012

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To discuss current evidence of global climate change and its implications for allergic rhinitis and other allergic respiratory diseases. RECENT FINDINGS: Global climate change is evidenced by increasing average earth temperature, increasing anthropogenic greenhouse gas levels, and elevated pollen levels. Pollutants of interest include carbon dioxide (CO2), ozone (O3), and nitrous oxide (NO2) because they can enhance the allergic response and lead to increased symptoms of allergic respiratory diseases. Heightened CO2 levels stimulate pollen production via photosynthesis and increased growth in multiple plant species investigated. Although worsened air quality appears to increase prevalence of allergic rhinitis, the effects of increased temperature are less certain. The findings of increased aeroallergen levels likely contribute to increases in presentation of allergic diseases, although more healthcare impact studies are necessary. SUMMARY: Although recent literatu...

Aeroallergens, Allergic Disease, and Climate Change: Impacts and Adaptation

EcoHealth, 2009

Recent research has shown that there are many effects of climate change on aeroallergens and thus allergic diseases in humans. Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration acts as a fertilizer for plant growth. The fertilizing effects of carbon dioxide, as well as increased temperatures from climate change, increase pollen production and the allergen content of pollen grains. In addition, higher temperatures are changing the timing and duration of the pollen season. As regional climates change, plants can move into new areas and changes in atmospheric circulation can blow pollen-and spore-containing dust to new areas, thus introducing people to allergens to which they have not been exposed previously. Climate change also influences the concentrations of airborne pollutants, which alone, and in conjunction with aeroallergens, can exacerbate asthma or other respiratory illnesses. The few epidemiological analyses of meteorological factors, aeroallergens, and allergic diseases demonstrate the pathways through which climate can exert its influence on aeroallergens and allergic diseases. In addition to the need for more research, there is the imperative to take preventive and adaptive actions to address the onset and exacerbation of allergic diseases associated with climate variability and change.

Weather conditions and climate change have an effect on allergies

Allergo journal international, 2016

Climate change particularly a ects the health of vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly, and socially disadvantaged individuals. Asthmatics are also at greater risk from the results of climate change due to their non-speci c and allergen-speci c bronchial hyperreactivity. Climate change a ects the production, release, and number of allergenic pollens throughout Europe. Tree pollen in particular is being seen earlier and in greater numbers, while little e ect is seen on grass pollens, and mugwort pollen is showing a downward trend. e ragweed that is spreading throughout Europe is still only of regional relevance in Germany. understorm periods represent a risk for pollen asthmatics. Although little is known about changes in molds, an increase in mycelium growth and spore formation is anticipated. Warmer winters may result in changes to mite populations. Cite this as Bergmann K-C. Weather conditions and climate change have an e ect on allergies.