Abstract
Pollen-related respiratory allergy has a significant impact on global public health, as it involves around one-quarter of the general population. On the other hand, green areas are of pivotal importance in improving the quality of life through a multitude of effects. Therefore, adequately selecting plants for the urban and country landscape represents an important preventive measure to reduce the burden of the disease. This review aims to summarize the characteristics of the allergenic plants and the measures that can be taken to reduce their impact on public health. The degree of allergenicity of plants can be predicted according to various tools, e.g. the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale (OPALS) and the criteria by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. In brief, noninvasive, non-toxic, entomophilous plants (i.e. insect-pollinated flowers) should be the preferred ones. Interventions aimed at reducing the impact of pollen allergy should include both a correct selection of plants and simple individual preventive measures. In conclusion, better understanding how pollen-related respiratory allergy impacts on global public health and defining criteria to adequately choose plants for the landscape is of paramount importance to improve quality of life for children and adults with respiratory allergies.
Highlights
Around 30% of the world population suffers from allergic pollen-related diseases [1], constituting an important clinical problem for affected individuals and carrying substantial costs for the healthcare system
On the other hand, green can have negative effects, as it happens for patients with pollen allergy
It is important to spread the knowledge related to the pathogenetic mechanisms of allergy, as well as the life cycle of plants that are most often implied in allergic manifestations [10]
Summary
Around 30% of the world population suffers from allergic pollen-related diseases [1], constituting an important clinical problem for affected individuals and carrying substantial costs for the healthcare system. In Europe, more than million citizens have chronic allergic diseases, implying costs up to billion euros per year [2] for the National Health Services. This is one of the main health issues at present, and will probably worsen exponentially in the years, as a result of climatic change and growing urbanization, industrialization, and pollution [3]. An example of secondary prevention might be to prevent symptoms in people who are already sensitized to an allergen In this latter topic, the characteristics of the environment in which we live, both indoors and outdoors, play an important role. Knowledge related to the pathogenetic mechanisms of allergy, as well as the life cycle of plants that are most often implied in allergic manifestations [10]
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