Effects on asthma and respiratory allergy of Climate change and air pollution

Abstract

The major changes to our world are those involving the atmosphere and the climate, including global warming induced by anthropogenic factors, with impact on the biosphere and human environment. Studies on the effects of climate changes on respiratory allergy are still lacking and current knowledge is provided by epidemiological and experimental studies on the relationship between allergic respiratory diseases, asthma and environmental factors, like meteorological variables, airborne allergens and air pollution.Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that urbanization, high levels of vehicle emissions and westernized lifestyle are correlated with an increased frequency of respiratory allergy, mainly in people who live in urban areas in comparison with people living in rural areas.However, it is not easy to evaluate the impact of climate changes and air pollution on the prevalence of asthma in general and on the timing of asthma exacerbations, although the global rise in asthma prevalence and severity could be also considered an effect of air pollution and climate changes. Since airborne allergens and air pollutants are frequently increased contemporaneously in the atmosphere, enhanced IgE-mediated response to aeroallergens and enhanced airway inflammation could account for the increasing frequency of respiratory allergy and asthma in atopic subjects in the last five decades. Pollen allergy is frequently used to study the interrelationship between air pollution and respiratory allergic diseases such as rhinitis and bronchial asthma. Climatic factors (temperature, wind speed, humidity, thunderstorms, etc) can affect both components (biological and chemical) of this interaction. Scientific societies should be involved in advocacy activities, such as those realized by the Global Alliance against chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD).

A Review of the Field on Children’s Exposure to Environmental Contaminants: A Risk Assessment Approach

“…In addition, children are at greater risks for distress and anxiety caused by heat waves and other extreme events that interrupt normal outdoor play or result in life changing events (e.g., destruction of home and migration). We will likely see an emergence of substantial research in the area of climate change effects on air and water pollution and other environmental and public health outcomes for children [117]. …”

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

“…Climate changes interact with and affect air pollution and pollinosis, which in turn increases the frequency and severity of asthma, and affects the clinical expression of allergic disease [1–4]. Climate change affects the timing, dispersion, quantity, and quality of aeroallergens and the distribution and severity of allergic disease.…”

“…Air pollution is closely associated with climate change [1–4]. Over the last 50 years global earth’s temperature has markedly risen [1].…”

Effect of Meteorological Variables on Air Pollutants Variation in Arid Climates

“…At the present time, vehicular pollution is the main source of anthropogenic air pollution that degrades the quality of air in the cities of industrialized countries, whereas industrial pollution still presents the largest source of air pollution in countries undergoing industrialization. However, other sources of pollution, such as desert sand storms, sea salt, wildfires, and volcanic ash are considered as natural pollution and have to be added to levels of particulates that pollute the ambient atmosphere [5,6]. Air quality and meteorological factors are closely linked through atmospheric chemical reactions and dynamic processes.…”