Climate change, allergy and asthma, and the role of tropical forests

Abstract

BackgroundTropical forests cover less than 10 per cent of all land area (1.8 × 107 km2) and over half of the tropical-forest area (1.1 × 107 Km2) is represented by humid tropical forests (also called tropical rainforests). The Amazon basin contains the largest rainforest on Earth, almost 5.8 million km2, and occupies about 40% of South America; more than 60% of the basin is located in Brazil and the rest in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.Over the past decade the positive role of tropical rainforests in capturing large amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) has been demonstrated. In response to the increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration, tropical forests act as a global carbon sink.Main bodyAccumulation of carbon in the tropical terrestrial biosphere strongly contributes to slowing the rate of increase of CO2 into the atmosphere, thus resulting in the reduction of greenhouse gas effect. Tropical rainforests have been estimated to account for 32–36% of terrestrial Net Primary Productivity (NPP) that is the difference between total forest photosynthesis and plant respiration. Tropical rainforests have been acting as a strong carbon sink in this way for decades.However, over the past years, increased concentrations of greenhouse gases, and especially CO2, in the atmosphere have significantly affected the net carbon balance of tropical rainforests, and have warmed the planet substantially driving climate changes through more severe and prolonged heat waves, variability in temperature, increased air pollution, forest fires, droughts, and floods. The role of tropical forests in mitigating climate change is therefore critical. Over the past 30 years almost 600,000 km2 have been deforested in Brazil alone due to the rapid development of Amazonia, this is the reason why currently the region is one of the ‘hotspots’ of global environmental change on the planet.ConclusionDeforestation represents the second largest anthropogenic source of CO2 to the atmosphere, after fossil fuel combustion. There are many causes of deforestation, including socioeconomic and natural factors, such as clear-cutting for agriculture, ranching and development, unsustainable logging for timber, as well as droughts, fires and degradation due to climate change. About natural causes of forest degradation, in the context of the Amazon, the major agent of change in the forest ecosystem would most likely be decreased dry-season precipitation. Of the 23 global climate models employed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in their 2007 report, 50–70% predict a substantial (above 20%) reduction of dry-season rainfall in eastern Amazonia under mid-range greenhouse gas emissions scenarios, 40% in central Amazonia and 20% in the west. While annual carbon emissions from fossil-fuel combustion have been continually increasing since 1960s, historical trends of deforestation and associated carbon emissions have remained poorly understood.

Increased sensitization to several allergens over a 12‐year period in Brazilian children

“…1 The increase in the control group observed in 2016 might be a result of a warmer and more humid climate. 3 Further studies with larger cohorts are needed to support this hypothesis.…”

“…1,2 Change in habits and climate has been discussed as major contributing factors. 1,3 The first Brazilian Allergy Project (PROAL I) study was carried out in 2004 with the objective of documenting the sensitization rates to the major allergens in Brazilian allergic children. 4 This was the first study of its kind, which contributed to better understanding of regional differences and enabled comparison with other countries.…”

“…Consequently, the high rates of sensitization to pollen in this study may be the result of urbanization and exposure to pollutants. 3 We could also document increased sensitization to food allergens, such as cow′s milk, peanut, and maize. One explanation for the increasing cow′s milk sensitization could be the cross-reactions with furry animals, through serum albumins.…”

“…Less than ten cases are reported in the literature. [1][2][3][4] Herein, we describe the first two pediatric cases of SDAU. The and pressure] were performed with a negative result.…”

Contribution of plant litter and soil variables to organic carbon pools following tropical forest development after slash‐and‐burn agriculture

“…Tropical forests worldwide are undergoing rapid destruction, such as transformation of them into agricultural land, thereby possibly inducing a large loss of soil organic carbon (SOC). The destruction accounts for 12–20% of the greenhouse gas emissions from tropical forests, which are likely to remain the second largest source of emissions in the foreseeable future (D'Amato et al, ). Tropical forest carbon is primarily stored in soils.…”