Aeroallergens in Canada: Distribution, Public Health Impacts, and Opportunities for Prevention

Abstract

Aeroallergens occur naturally in the environment and are widely dispersed across Canada, yet their public health implications are not well-understood. This review intends to provide a scientific and public health-oriented perspective on aeroallergens in Canada: their distribution, health impacts, and new developments including the effects of climate change and the potential role of aeroallergens in the development of allergies and asthma. The review also describes anthropogenic effects on plant distribution and diversity, and how aeroallergens interact with other environmental elements, such as air pollution and weather events. Increased understanding of the relationships between aeroallergens and health will enhance our ability to provide accurate information, improve preventive measures and provide timely treatments for affected populations.

Geographic Inequalities of Respiratory Health Services Utilization during Childhood in Edmonton and Calgary, Canada: A Tale of Two Cities

“…The low spatial variability in NO 2 and PM 2.5 concentrations captured from the land use regression models can be a potential explanation for these results (see Figures S9 and S10 in Supplementary Materials, Section S5) Second, the geographic pattern delineated by spatial filter quintiles help to identify the geographic extension of neighbourhood-level factors that could potentially be further investigated. Part of those neighbourhood-level factors can be external factors surrounding areas of high rate in the use of paediatric respiratory healthcare services, for example: allergens (pollen, fungal) or air pollutants that have been identified as cofactors of respiratory diseases [50,52,53]; or social-structural factors limiting the access to health care services including heterogenous geographic distribution of healthcare facilities [54]. In this way, the identification of the spatial extensions related to health outcomes help to empirically conceptualize "neighbourhoods" as social-ecological units beyond the use of administrative boundaries [55] and be of interest for local healthcare authorities.…”

Efficacy of air purifier therapy for patients with allergic asthma

“…Controlling asthma patients' symptoms is helpful in preventing asthma-related mortality and comorbidities. However, with the deteriorating quality of the environment, it is difficult to control the symptoms of patients with allergic asthma [13,14]. Although environmental intervention has been used as an adjuvant therapeutic method [9], it was based on subjects' medication use, making it difficult to define its mechanism of action.…”

Environmental Hazards and Behavior Change: User Perspectives on the Usability and Effectiveness of the AirRater Smartphone App

“…Aeroallergens (primarily pollen and fungal spores) are also common exposures worldwide and can provoke immune responses causing symptoms of allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis or asthma, which are common chronic conditions across a broad range of age groups [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Extreme weather-related events, such as heat and cold waves, represent another important environmental exposure [ 8 , 9 ], with health implications that can lead to illness or death in vulnerable populations such as the elderly and children, those with pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, as well as outdoor workers [ 10 ].…”