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Climate change and the associated disruption in the ecosystem may potentially profoundly affect the human body. The way the natural environment is being reshaped by changes in the climate will have a long-lasting and varied effect on human health. As climate change keeps negatively affecting those microorganisms that live in our bodies and have a beneficial effect on us, the changes in these microbiomes as they are known, will have harmful effects in a direct correlation between allergies and climate change. The negative effects now are more severe than what we have normally seen in climate change allergy season which traditionally comes around the same time every year.
Let us explore the intricacies of the relationship between the two, allergies and climate change, understanding the mechanisms behind this connection, learning about the various types of climate allergies, and the strategies that may be adopted to reduce the impact of change of weather allergy.
Understanding Allergy Season Climate Change Impact
Allergies are nothing but hypersensitive responses of your immune system that may be triggered by exposure to any of the following types of substances which you may be sensitive to, known as allergens:
- Pollen – A fine yellowish powder originating from plants that is carried by the wind, insects, birds or other animals to other plants to fertilise them.
- Dust Mites – Microscopic-sized insect-like pests normally found in the dust in our houses. These mites feed on the dander, flakes of dead skin shed by pets and people.
- Pet Dander – The flakes of dead skin shed by pets.
- Certain Foods – Some foods cause allergies in people. The US FDA identifies 8 food groups as being allergenic– eggs, milk, fish, crustacean shellfish, soybeans, peanuts, wheat and tree nuts.
How are Allergies and Climate Change Interlinked?
Let us understand how allergies and climate change are interlinked by analysing the effect of it on every group of allergens:
1. Pollen Allergies
Climate change is bringing with it rising temperatures globally and an overall increase in the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Such changed conditions are modifying the pollen-producing capacity of allergenic plants. The season for pollen is also getting extended for such plants. The overall increase in the concentration of pollen in the atmosphere is correspondingly increasing the risk of asthma exacerbations, allergic rhinitis, and other complications in the respiratory system of those susceptible to allergies from pollen.
2. Mould Allergies
Climate change is not only increasing the temperatures globally, but it is also bringing about changes in the levels of precipitation and in combination, levels of humidity. Such conditions are ideal for increased growth of both indoor and outdoor moulds. The spores of these moulds are highly potent allergens which may cause fungal attacks, allergies and asthma attacks. This poses a serious health risk in environments that are damp or suffer from water damage.
3. Dust Mite Allergies
Climate change is bringing warmer temperatures and higher humidity levels worldwide. Such conditions are ideal for the increased proliferation of the microscopic arthropods called dust mites which are found in household dust. These allergens commonly cause allergic reactions in people suffering from asthma and allergic rhinitis. People exposed to dust mites suffer from irritation of the skin and respiratory difficulties.
4. Food Allergies
Climate change is forcing people to change and shift agricultural practices, production of food and techniques used in the processing of food. All these sudden changes may impact the content of allergens in the food and increase its incidence. The changes brought about by climate change in the overall ecosystem may also hamper the distribution patterns of allergenic food types such as seafood, fruits and nuts, thus having a direct impact on people sensitive to such food types, potentially causing complications in managing the dietary requirement of a large number of people across the world.
Causes of Allergies due to Climate Change
So how is climate change affecting allergies and aggravating the already bad effects? Potentially climate change is making the symptoms worse and is also responsible for modifying the various delivery pathways by the following means:
- Production of the allergens is getting modified.
- The patterns of distribution of the allergens are getting altered.
- There is a change in the air quality thus increasing the abundance of allergens and causing them to mutate. Changes in air quality also increase the prevalence of allergic reactions in the human body.
- Weather conditions are changing and the incidence of rain, thunderstorms and such forms of precipitation is increasing which is the best climate for allergies causing moulds which are blooming strongly in this moist atmosphere.
We need to understand the intensification of allergies during climate change and the mechanism it is adopting in order to try to control the causes and effects to protest the segment of the human population who are increasingly vulnerable to allergies.
>> Also Read: How to protect yourself against Diseases in the Rainy Season?
Factors Escalating the Impact of Climate Change on Allergies
The following mechanisms are the underlying factors for the impact of climate change on allergies:
1. Aeroallergen Exposure
Climate change is bringing about widespread changes in the patterns of temperature, rainfall and humidity levels. These factors are combining to change the patterns and in some cases the timelines of the production and release and dispersion of allergens in the air. In some cases, the concentration of such allergens in the atmosphere is also increasing. All this combines with the increase in exposure and sensitivity to airborne allergens for those who are susceptible to such allergies.
2. Immune System Modulation
Climate change is responsible for environmental factors such as pollen exposure, air pollution and microbial interactions changing their interactions with the immune systems of those of you who are susceptible to allergies. Such interactions result in an increase in allergic responses and the incidence of inflammations.
3. Respiratory Health Effects
The effects of climate change on the weather are causing increased occurrences of events such as heatwaves, wildfires and extreme levels of precipitation or rainfall. All these can result in worsened air quality and increased levels of particulate matter in the air. Such changes serve to make matters even worse for the already concerning respiratory conditions and amplify the symptoms of allergy and difficulty in breathing.
4. Ecological Disruptions
Climate change results in a severe impact on ecosystems, biodiversity and the phenology of plants. This results in unwarranted changes in the distribution and the flourishing of plants, microorganisms and insects that are allergenic and overall increase the levels of diseases caused by allergies brought over by them.
How to Manage Allergies during Climate Change?
We need to manage the increased occurrences of allergies caused by climate change by taking up the following strategies:
1. Awareness on Public Health: People need to be educated on the effects of climate change on the incidence of allergies. People and communities will need to be educated on how to avoid allergens under altered circumstances. The government agencies will need to step in and broadcast details of the air quality and issue warnings in the form of allergen forecasting.
2. Improvement of the Air Quality Indoors: People will need to adapt to the changes in the environment and invest in systems to provide filtered air indoors, increase the methods of ventilation, adopt measures to control the levels of humidity and adjust to regular cleaning routines. This will reduce the exposure to allergens you’re supposed to face indoors and your living environment will be allergy-friendly.
3. Green Infrastructure Initiatives: You need to plant different allergy-friendly plants where you live in. The chances of native plants spreading allergens are lesser. Green spaces need to be created to promote measures of biodiversity. Urgent implementation of projects for greening urban areas with a focus on enhancing the quality of the air and reducing exposure to pollen is required.
4. Monitoring Airborne Allergens: Allergens and pollen need to be monitored and estimated. The use of advanced predictive models to anticipate areas which may face peak exposure to allergens is required. Decisions on the management of allergens need to be informed to people allowing them to adopt preventive measures.
In Conclusion
The nature of climate change and allergies – directly intertwined with each other – is reason enough to take drastic and proactive steps to seriously address the increase and mutation of allergic conditions, reactions and diseases. Necessary steps need to be taken to recognise the severity of the situation and to take up innovative solutions to decrease the impact of this menace on public health.
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