How Climate Change Contributes to the Current Allergy Epidemic
Climate change should not just be a “trending issue.”
I distinctly remember how significant climate change was that famous influencers constantly talk about it by promoting sustainability products. But not so much anymore.
So, I want to bring back climate change into the discussion because the consequences of climate change aggravate various underlying health issues like; the rise in allergy cases.
When we discuss allergy, genetic predisposition is a contributing factor to disease susceptibility. But, let’s not undermine the environmental effects that play a more prominent role in the rise of the allergy epidemic.
Climate change is defined as human-induced global warming, where the leading cause is the accumulation of greenhouse gases.
There are three main mechanisms on how the consequences of climate change have claimed millions of lives every year.
1. The By-Products of Burning Fossil Fuels
Carbon dioxide is a significant component of air pollution which experimentally is a T-helper 2 (Th2) promoting adjuvant. Th2 helper cells lead to a humoral immune response, typically against extracellular parasites. Early life exposure will increase sensitization to most allergens (food allergens and aeroallergens). Increased exposure to carbon dioxide is also linked to promoting eczema and worsening existing asthma conditions, shown in both human and experimental models.
Other unnamed particulate matters smaller than 2.5 micrometres can penetrate the lung and is pro-inflammatory.
2. Global Warming
The substantial changes in rainfall patterns, hurricanes and wind have modified many aspects of pollination, such as:
- its seasonality
- timing of release
- the quantity
- and the overall geographic distribution
3. Increased Occurrence of Extreme Weather Conditions
- Thunderstorms aggravate asthmatic symptoms.
- Flooding results in a long-term increase in moisture. It also promotes the environmental conditions that favour the growth of allergenic moulds.
- Wildfires and dust storms can travel thousands of miles from the impact site and have been causing an abrupt increase in particulate matter in the air.
Allergists and immunologists are more concerned now as the link between climate change and the allergy epidemic is becoming crystal clear. Although I wrote it as seem like the effects are unidirectional, when in fact, the effects work in a variety of cooperative mechanisms to accelerate diseases’ development, severity and spectrum.
