Outdoor Allergens: Pollens and Molds and Their Relationship to Climate Changes

Abstract

The impact of air pollution and climate change on the environment, biosphere and biodiversity has become more evident in the recent years. Air pollution, climate change and the correlated global warming affect the quantity, intensity and frequency of precipitation type as well as extreme climate change events such as heat waves, droughts, thunderstorms, floods and hurricanes. Respiratory health can be particularly affected by climate change, which can contribute to the development of asthma and allergic respiratory diseases. Pollen and Mold allergens have been shown to trigger the release of pro-inflammatory and immunomodulatory mediators that accelerate the onset of allergy and the IgE-mediated sensitization in atopic-allergic subjects. In particular allergy to pollen and pollen season at its beginning, in duration and intensity are altered by change climate. Studies show that plants exhibit enhanced photosynthesis and reproductive effects and produce more pollen as a response to high atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2). Pollen allergy is generally used to evaluate the interrelation between air pollution and allergic respiratory diseases, such as rhinitis and asthma. Lightning storms during pollen seasons can cause exacerbation of respiratory allergy and asthma in patients with pollinosis.