Climate Change and Our Environment: The Effect on Respiratory and Allergic Disease

Abstract

Climate change is a constant and ongoing process. It is postulated that human activities have reached a point at which we are producing global climate change. This article provides suggestions to help the allergist/environmental physician integrate recommendations about improvements in outdoor and indoor air quality and the likely response to predicted alterations in the earth’s environment into their patient’s treatment plan. Many changes that affect respiratory disease are anticipated. Examples of responses to climate change include energy reduction retrofits in homes that could potentially affect exposure to allergens and irritants, more hot sunny days that increase ozone-related difficulties, and rises in sea level or altered rainfall patterns that increase exposure to damp indoor environments. Climate changes can also affect ecosystems, manifested as the appearance of stinging and biting arthropods in new areas. Higher ambient carbon dioxide concentrations, warmer temperatures, and changes in floristic zones could potentially increase exposure to ragweed and other outdoor allergens, whereas green practices such as composting can increase allergen and irritant exposure. Finally, increased energy costs may result in urban crowding and human source pollution, leading to changes in patterns of infectious respiratory illnesses. Improved governmental controls on airborne pollutants could lead to cleaner air and reduced respiratory diseases but will meet strong opposition because of their effect on business productivity. The allergy community must therefore adapt, as physician and research scientists always have, by anticipating the needs of patients and by adopting practices and research methods to meet changing environmental conditions.

Environmental Changes, Microbiota, and Allergic Diseases

“…Repeated exposure to such environmental stimuli over the course of a life-time may strongly promote the development of NCDs, especially if there is an imbalance between the inflammatory responses and the host response against environmental toxins 4. Indeed, there is considerable evidence that indicates that effective immune responses have been disturbed by recent changes in environmental factors such as diet, microbial colonization patterns, air pollution, and climate, as a result, the prevalence of NCDs has increased 5,6…”

Hydrogen: A sustainable fuel for future of the transport sector

“…These emitted pollutants have a serious negative impact on the health and environment. The health impacts include various respiratory health problems, eye irritation, allergies, myocardial ischaemia and angina [72]. The various environmental impacts include global warming, air pollution, smog, acid rain etc.…”

Considerations About Pollen Used for the Production of Allergen Extracts

“…There is some evidence that increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could augment the allergenicity of ragweed and other pollen species. 28 In addition, several observations suggest that pollen collected from areas with high levels of air pollution have greater pro-inflammatory properties than pollen obtained from nonpolluted locations. 29 …”